Icehearts Torino: between sport, learning, and discovery

Three times a week, a group of boys and girls from the Ottino school meet for a program that combines physical activities, games, and moments of creativity. The Icehearts Europe project, also active in Turin, offers an education that goes beyond the classroom and is built through direct experience, play, and sport.

The activities vary between exercises in the gym, gardening workshops, and traditional games, with the aim of helping participants discover new skills and ways of interacting. “We chose to create a dynamic and participatory educational environment, where every child can feel like an active part of the program,” say Luca and Francesca, educators involved as mentors in the project. “Sport and learning are intertwined and reinforce each other, helping children to develop awareness, autonomy, and skills that will be useful for the future.”

A second group, made up of 18 teenagers between the ages of 11 and 14, has instead embarked on a sports program based on ultimate frisbee, thanks to a collaboration with the Associazione Ultimate Torino. Twice a week, the kids train first at Cumiana15, then at the Centro Polisportivo Massari, building team spirit and collaboration. The experience is not limited to the field: after each meeting, they get together for a shared snack, an informal moment that helps strengthen bonds and give continuity to the group.

Looking to the future, the project would like to be enriched with new outdoor experiences and sports trips, including participation in the frisbee finals in Padua on June 7. In addition, at the end of the frisbee cycle, a sabar dance course will be launched, further enriching the activities on offer.

“Our goal is not to replace school, but to complement it,” explain Luca and Francesca. “We want to offer young people tools to understand themselves and the world through an education that values active involvement and fun.”

In addition to weekly activities, educational outings and visits to special museums are being planned for the arrival of summer. Another important gathering will be the party-event on May 22, scheduled to take place at Via Cumiana 15, where the children's experiences will be presented and the future stages of the project will be shared.

Icehearts Europe, inspired by the Finnish model and coordinated at European level by ISCA - International Sport and Culture Association, is active in eight countries, including Finland, Spain, and Denmark. In Italy, thanks to Uisp and its territorial network, the project involves 400 children in 12 cities, with the aim of creating welcoming communities and supporting young people in their growth through sport. (Lorenzo Boffa)

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