Milan, In a significant expansion, the SEA BEYOND educational program, a collaboration between UNESCO and the Prada Group, will reach 34,385 students from 184 secondary schools across 56 countries. This year’s program, running from January to June 2024, will focus on the relationship between the ocean and climate, including environmental challenges, and will culminate in an international contest.
According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the program will offer ocean literacy training sessions for both students and teachers. It will feature live lessons with UNESCO’s ocean and climate experts. The initiative aims to increase awareness and understanding of ocean-related issues and encourage proactive behaviors for ocean preservation.
A significant aspect of this year’s program is a contest inviting schools to create awareness campaigns. These campaigns, which may include text, graphics, or interactive content, are intended to educate peers on adopting behaviors that help preserve the ocean. The jury, composed of SEA BEYOND “friends” and previous participants, will evaluate these campaigns.
In a new partnership with the international non-profit organization Bibliotheques Sans Frontieres (Libraries without Borders), the program aims to extend ocean education to children in vulnerable communities. This collaboration will utilize the Ideas Box, a mobile multimedia center developed by French designer Philippe Starck, to provide access to internet, electronic devices, books, games, and training materials.
Starting in June 2024, the first SEA BEYOND-dedicated Ideas Box focused on ocean education will be introduced in Venice on International Ocean Day. Managed by Fondazione Quartieri Spagnoli, it will be based in Naples and then travel across Italy. UNESCO experts will also integrate ocean literacy content into existing Ideas Boxes in France, Burundi, and the Ivory Coast, providing training to local teams.
SEA BEYOND, supported by Prada Group through donations from its Re-Nylon Collection sales, has been an ongoing effort since 2019. It has contributed to global ocean education, supporting scientific research dissemination and humanitarian projects related to the ocean. Prada Group also focuses on training its employees in ocean literacy, using virtual reality and the AWorld app, endorsed by the United Nations.
Prada Group’s commitment to sustainability and cultural engagement is evident in its partnerships and initiatives. It supports various causes including educational programs, scientific research, women’s empowerment, and the promotion of local culture and artistic heritage.
UNESCO, as the United Nations agency responsible for education, science, culture, and communication, plays a vital role in promoting international cooperation in marine sciences through its Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. It leads initiatives like the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, aiming to improve ocean management and conservation.
Bibliotheques Sans Frontieres, established in 2007, has been instrumental in bringing information, education, and cultural resources to underserved communities worldwide, impacting over 1.5 million individuals through its innovative, inclusive, and multi-language projects.