A project that has engaged students across the Venice region reaches its final day, designed to build awareness of diversity and disability.
Introducing children to diversity early on is the key to ensuring that what surrounds them is welcomed, accepted, and experienced as entirely natural and ordinary. This mindset can help reduce wariness and distance toward disability itself. It is precisely this approach that has guided the Venetian initiative Play Day 2018—a project created to raise children's awareness of diversity and disability by involving them in creative, engaging activities centered on sport.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Lagoon and Port Association, with the backing of the Port Authority of the Northern Adriatic, the Veneto Region, the City of Venice, and support from ACTV, AVM Holding, Decathlon, and the Deutsche Bank Italy Foundation, Play Day 2018 began in November 2017 with two competitions for kindergartens, primary schools, and secondary schools in Venice, Mestre, and Lido. It culminates on April 10 with the Play Day 2018 event at the Venice Maritime Terminal Basin.
OVER 1,200 STUDENTS GATHER FOR INCLUSIVE SPORT – For Play Day 2018, the Venice Passenger Terminal will transform into a kind of small Olympic village: a festive gathering space for students, teachers, athletes, and notable sports figures, alongside local institutions and officials. More than 1,000 students from 26 schools across the Venice region will witness the awards ceremony for the best drawings from the two competitions, and will have the chance to try their hand at numerous water sports—sailing and traditional Venetian rowing. Young people with and without disabilities will be able to participate in small regattas in complete safety, as well as test their skills in soccer, basketball, canoeing, and sailing under the instruction of qualified coaches and professional athletes. There will also be various demonstrations.
THE COMPETING CHAMPIONS – Several sports champions will take part, including Olympic medalist Daniele Scarpa (canoeing) and Sandra Truccolo (Paralympic archery champion), players from Venezia FC, players from the ReyerGiuseppe Aprea and Francesco Benussi (former professional goalkeepers), representatives of the Italian National Wheelchair Hockey Team, and Gloria Rogliani (Venetian champion of the historic regatta). Also present will be Alberto Tuchtan, president of Meteorsharing, a sailing sports association, and Andrea Stella with his inclusive sailing initiative. Sports organizations that teach and practice athletics with people with disabilities will also participate: Baskin Mestre (inclusive basketball), I For Me D'abili (inclusive soccer), and Black Lions (wheelchair hockey).
THE COMPETITIONS – During Play Day, the winning drawings from two competitions will be honored: "Through Your Eyes" and "There's Room for Everyone! Want My Parking Space…I'll Give You My Handicap Too."
The first, developed with the Association Il Piccolo Principe, invited children in their final year of kindergarten to express their understanding of diversity as a strength, following a theatrical performance. All the work will be displayed on the first floor of Terminal 103 on the day of the event.
The second competition engaged middle school students from the City of Venice, who were invited—after meeting with Pietro Martire, founder of the "Beyond the Wall" Association—to create drawings on the theme of parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities. The top five winning drawings will be transformed into actual street signs that will be placed below existing disability parking signs in spaces throughout the port area, Maritime Station, St. Basilio, the Novotel Venice Mestre Castellana, select Decathlon stores across Italy, and schools in Venice that are part of the project.
Source: Disabili.com