It was presented this morning in the Piazzale delle Feste in the Porto Antico area of Genoa the 2021 edition of ’Una vela per la donna,“ the initiative launched by the Department of Equal Opportunities and Related Rights of the City of Genoa together with the Department of Social and Youth Policies of the City of Loano on the initiative of the associations Liguria Giovane (a cultural association that was created with the aim of enhancing the Liguria with a special focus on the world of young people), Sons of the Ocean (a nonprofit association that works to safeguard the environment through various intervention initiatives for beach cleaning, training and education in schools) and Hakuna Matata (an association born out of a father's love for his autistic daughter Sara, who works at the Loano Marina carrying out important projects over the years, opening her world to people with disabilities).
As highlighted by the promoters of the initiative, sailing leads “to activating one's internal resources and strengthening one's self-esteem. Sailing educates one to respect the environment and to empathize with others, helps one to work as a team, and to empower oneself. Sailing leads to rediscovering oneself, achieving personal autonomy and self-esteem.” The “A Sail for the Woman” project will give women victims of violence, who are in contact with anti-violence centers and sheltered houses, the opportunity to spend a day sailing free of charge and confidentially in order to experience a moment of well-being and recreation.
The initiative of the three associations mentioned above was joined by the convergence of interests of a network of local actors committed to the sailing world and oriented toward promoting paths of social inclusion for women victims of violence: the regional Naval League (and the local sections of Borghetto Santo Spirito, Finale Ligure, Imperia, La Spezia, Lerici, Genova Sestri Ponente, Sanremo, and Savona), the Mascherona Anti-Violence Center, the Center for Not Suffering Violence, and the Pandora Anti-Violence Center; all collaborating to promote initiatives aimed at fostering the independence and autonomy of women victims of violence, including through contact with the sailing world.
In the first week of September, there will also be a sailing day open to the public at the Genoa Naval League and Loano sections, which will offer the opportunity for day trips by making a small contribution. The funds raised will be donated to local anti-violence centers to activate work or study grants for women victims of violence.
“I am pleased to promote a project like A Sail for Women,” says Genoa City Councilor for Equal Opportunities Giorgio Viale, "With Ocean Race, Genoa will be the European capital of sailing, and it is important that we do not forget about violence against women on this occasion; moreover, sport has always been the main way to rediscover one's inner energies and autonomy, so I am really happy that we can offer this opportunity to those who have been victims of violence."
“A project whose goal is also to raise awareness on the issue of women victims of violence and to collect resources to support anti-violence centers in the Ligurian territory. Sailing can, in fact, help those who have been victims of violence, getting away from the thoughts that bind them to the land through the creation of moments of leisure, harmony and relaxation, recovering energy and resources to face a path, to overcome its consequences and get back on track - say Luca Lettieri and Remo Zaccaria, respectively councilor for social and youth policies and deputy mayor and councilor for sports of the City of Loano - Gender violence is a theme unfortunately always dramatically current. In addition to implementing measures to prevent this terrible phenomenon, it is also necessary to undertake activities aimed at offering support to women who have suffered violence. Sports, all kinds of sports, have important and positive physical and health benefits on so many levels. The direct contact with the sea offered by sea sports, in particular, is able to restore serenity and balance to all those people who, for different reasons, have found themselves experiencing moments of emotional and psychological crisis such as women victims of violence. As an administration, therefore, we wanted to strongly support this important project.”.
