Icehearts Europe: Workshops in 4 Italian Cities to Strengthen the Network

Sport has the power to transform the lives of individuals and communities, promoting social inclusion and mental well-being. The Icehearts Europe project, inspired by the Finnish model and coordinated by ISCA (International Sport and Culture Association), aims to prevent the social exclusion of vulnerable children through involvement in team sports in Denmark, Estonia, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Slovenia, Spain, and Italy. Always at the forefront of promoting accessible and inclusive sports for everyone, Uisp contributes its experience and passion to this project as the leader in Italy.

Uisp plays a fundamental role, actively operating on several fronts to guarantee the success of the initiative. Firstly, it organizes and manages numerous national workshops, essential for promoting the project, raising awareness in the community, and training Icehearts mentors. These workshops offer a platform for discussing strategies, sharing experiences, and developing the skills necessary to tackle social challenges through sport in 13 Italian cities. In recent months, meetings have been held with the Uisp local committees of Turin, Rome, Foggia-Manfredonia, and Genoa.

On June 13, a workshop was held at the ITER Civic Center in Turin, with the participation of 30 people. It was opened with a presentation of the project by Massimo Aghilar, president of Uisp Turin, and Irma Preka, coordinator of Icehearts Turin. During the event, Francesca Troise, president of District 3 of Turin, emphasized the importance of projects that promote trust and relationships between young people and adults. Nancy Tiziana Grande, director of the Aldo Palazzeschi State Comprehensive Institute, highlighted the integration of the Icehearts model to address social withdrawal post-pandemic. Lucia Bianco from Gruppo Abele spoke about the role of mentors in supporting young people in a complex school context. Finally, Alice Iannacone from the University of Cassino presented the theory of change and explained the project monitoring process. The workshop also included group work with stakeholders and teachers, focusing on building a support network and planning targeted activities for young people.

There were 50 participants at the workshop in Cerignola on June 18 at the Padre Pio Comprehensive Institute, 39 of whom were primary school teachers. The group work allowed for discussion of sporting and cultural activities for primary school children. Luisa Russo, head of the institute, emphasized the importance of sport for the social and relational growth of children, while Maria Dibisceglia, deputy mayor of Cerignola, highlighted the need for educational projects to combat bullying and cyberbullying. Antonio Adamo, president of Uisp Puglia, spoke about the importance of sports associations as social safeguards and their role in combating the depopulation of small towns. Orazio Falcone, president of Uisp Foggia-Manfredonia, then focused on the implementation of the Icehearts projectin Puglia, emphasizing support for the most vulnerable post-Covid. Icehearts mentor Oriana Lapollo also spoke, explaining the role of mentors as facilitators of relationships between schools, social services, and families, as well as the importance of activities adapted to the specific needs of young people.

Uisp Genova held its workshop at the Auditorium Ex Fabbrica del Tabacco on June 26. Andrea Viari of Uisp Genova presented the Icehearts Europe model, emphasizing the importance of the educating community and collaboration between local actors. The focus of the project in Genoa will be on Sestri Ponente, with activities planned for the 2024–2025 school year, including a collaboration with Team Liguria and Save the Children's Punto Luce, involving children in difficult situations.

At Palazzo Valentini, during the Rome workshop, Giovanni Capelli of the ISS emphasized the long-term benefits of the project for public health. This was echoed by Simone Menichetti, president of Uisp Roma, who spoke about how the network already active in the area is working on mental distress through sport. Giorgio Trabucco, councilor of Roma Capitale, emphasized the value of sport as a tool for education and building trust, especially in difficult contexts such as those of migrants, while Tiziana Biolghini, managing director for Equal Opportunities of the Metropolitan City of Rome, suggested that the public administration could contribute with funding and by visiting other countries for inspiration. Finally, Loris Antonelli, psychotherapist and mentor of the Icehearts project, shared local experiences of mentoring, highlighting the need for more effective coordination between social services and schools.

In September, the first pilot actions will begin: sports and social support activities tailored to the needs of the area, from school assistance to summer camps, which will involve 20 mentors and 400 young people in 13 Italian cities. The objective is to create a safe environment where young people can grow and develop through sport for all.

For more information on the project, click here.

 (Lorenzo Boffa)

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them