In previous 2007 and 2008 issues, we wrote about a sailing
initiative promoted by the Istituto Cavazza in collaboration with the
Onlus Homerus Association of Vobarno, and which aimed at encouraging
sports activities as well as providing kids living with vision loss
opportunities for socializing in uncommon surroundings.
This year, we
wish to write further about "Blue Week" because an important innovation
was added to the organization of the play and sports activity. The eleven
sailors, aged 12 to 17, who participated in the Bogliaco activity on Garda
Lake, from July 18th to the 25th, 2010, have found for the first time a
place to stay in an apartment rented for the occasion instead of a hostel.
The idea was to further promote independence through such special
occasions and in everyday activities.
So the skilful sailors embarked on the adventure of managing an apartment, dividing among group members the tasks of cleaning, preparing meals, buying food, with the minimal but essential help of Mrs. Lucia Iuovone and two educators from the Istituto Cavazza. As for other events inspired by the same purpose, it was reported that the kids were strongly determined to independently organize themselves on
the sailboat (with the supervision of
Claudio Valle) as well as in the on-land base, always ready to hoist the
sail as well as tuck in the bed-sheets, to heave the anchor as well as the
pasta.
Just a note: some of the "sailors" had also participated in "A
Week in the City", an initiative which took place two weeks before at the
Istituto Cavazza, the subject of another article in this edition. It is a
clear confirmation of how well the initiatives are organized by the
Bologonese Institute, in the hope that there can be more of them and
reaching a higher number of participants.
