by InTrieste
On a bright September morning, 46 preschool students from the International School of Trieste and the Longera Municipal Preschool gathered at Barcola Beach for an unusual hands-on lesson: cleaning the sea. The event, part of the European Maritime Day (#EMD2024) celebrations, aimed to instill environmental values in children as young as five, with the theme “Little ECO-Explorers for a Clean Sea”.
The project, designed by Mare Nordest SSD a r.l. in collaboration with the Municipality of Trieste, combined environmental education with practical action. The children, guided by divers and staff, helped remove a wide variety of waste from the seabed. Items ranged from glass bottles and plastic containers to rusted metal and even pieces of old street signs—debris likely washed ashore during the previous year’s storms.
The project was supported by the European Commission’s #EUBeachCleanup initiative, reflecting the goals of the European Green Deal.
The event began with a storytelling session titled “Marino and the Clean Sea”, created by environmental advocate Monica Rana. Translated into English, Slovene, and German, the tale emphasized the importance of oceans and marine life, fostering a sense of responsibility among the young participants.
“Educating these young citizens on marine protection is key to safeguarding our future,” said Manuela Rizzo, Education Project Coordinator for Mare Nordest. This effort, part of a broader European initiative to promote ocean health, featured a collaboration with the non-profit Marevivo, which recently produced an educational booklet explaining marine protection goals for children.
The success of the event is attributed to its participatory nature, blending education with action. “Seeing children as active participants in these efforts is incredibly inspiring,” said Maria Cristina Pedicchio, President of Marevivo’s Friuli Venezia Giulia delegation.
By the end of the day, the children—accompanied by teachers and staff—had collected a trove of waste, from plastic to old tools. Despite the seriousness of the task, the atmosphere was celebratory, a fitting reflection of the day’s theme of shared responsibility for the environment.
As one teacher from the International School noted, “This experience wasn’t just about cleaning a beach. It was about shaping how these children see their relationship with the world around them.”
For these young “eco-explorers,” the day marked a critical first step in becoming lifelong stewards of the planet’s oceans.
