The Icehearts Europe international meeting in Turin

In Turin, in the regenerated space of Cumiana15—a former Lancia factory now managed by Uisp Torino as a sports and social center for citizens—the Italian leg of the Icehearts Europe International Meetings is taking place. The project, inspired by the Finnish model and coordinated by ISCA, promotes inclusion among children and young people through sport and educational relationships, and is active in eight European countries.

After the stages in Copenhagen, Ljubljana, Tallinn, and Seville, the meeting in Turin was an opportunity for the partner organizations to work, discuss, and share ideas, but also a chance to get to the heart of local experiences. The Cumiana15 space, in fact, which has been regenerated thanks to the Uisp Sport Civico project, is now a place where education, sport, and citizenship intertwine every day, and this meeting is a testament to that.

On the afternoon of May 22, the European partners took part in the activities of the Icehearts groups in Turin, sharing time with the children of the Ottino school and a group of teenagers aged between 11 and 14. It was a moment of giving back, with group activities, African dances, frisbee, and a song sung together, “Lo strano percorso” by Max Pezzali, a song particularly suited to this experience. (WATCH THE VIDEO)

“What we have seen here is simply beautiful,” commented Daniela Conti, national coordinator of the project and head of intercultural and cooperation policies at Uisp. "The mentors have built an authentic relationship with the boys and girls, based on trust. In some cases, even the families have found them to be a valuable resource. This is what makes the difference," she said, reporting on the status of the project, which involves 12 local committees in 13 Italian cities.

In Turin, Icehearts is active every week with two groups: the first involves children in activities ranging from movement to gardening, from traditional games to museum trips, as well as sharing activities through creativity; the second, aimed at teenagers, focuses on ultimate frisbee thanks to the collaboration with the Ultimate Torino association. Each meeting ends with a shared snack, an informal moment that strengthens the group and nurtures a sense of belonging. The activities in Turin also include a sabar dance workshop, which the partners attending the meeting also took part in during the day.

In the following days, May 23 and 24, the meeting continued with discussion sessions between partners, dedicated to evaluating practices in different countries and developing common guidelines. On May 23, participants also took part in Turin's Run for Future, a city event dedicated to sustainability and inclusion, which Uisp Torino organizes together with high school students.

“We know it's not easy, but what drives us forward is the evidence of the small but significant changes that the project is generating,” added Conti. “Some committees, such as Vicenza and Piacenza, are already working to continue the experience beyond the deadline, involving local authorities and families. This tells us that we are on the right track.”

VIEW THE PHOTO GALLERY OF THE ACTIVITIES

Icehearts has created a truly international network which, through concrete experiences, strengthens its commitment to building inclusive communities where every child can grow up with confidence. Among the organizations present in Turin were ISCA, the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), EuroHealthNet, DGI, Fútbol Más Spain, Icehearts Finland, University College of Cork, Sports Union of Slovenia, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, SPIN, and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. (Lorenzo Boffa)

Icehearts Europe is co-funded by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Health. The opinions expressed belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union.

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