A Sail for All
The Project “A Sail for All,” to help people with physical and mental disabilities
(by Luca Guazzati)
Facing the sea as a metaphor for life. An educational challenge to find oneself and self-esteem, to never feel alone, to engage above all the mind, to play a role, to feel like a crew, to be part of a group.
The Ancona Yacht Club’s “Una Vela per Tutti” project is among the winning beneficiaries of the regional call for proposals under the Marche 2021/2027 ERDF PR for the selection of projects to be included in crowdfunding campaigns (already started) in favor of Marche businesses.
A pilot project with a multiplier effect, which will fund a theoretical-practical sailing course
for people with mental distress, integrating a psychotherapy course.
The project was presented at the Marche Region headquarters at a press conference with Regional Councillor for Productive Activities, Andrea Maria Antonini.
Speakers included the deputy mayor of Ancona, Giovanni Zinni, municipal councillor for social affairs Manuela Caucci, regional councilor Marco Ausili and representatives of AST Ancona, Massimo Mazzieri and Massimo Mari, as well as the project manager Gessica Grelloni, a psychologist-psychotherapist, Riccardo Refe, head of the Ancona Yacht Club’s nautical school and Alessandro Domogrossi director of Marina Dorica.
Also present were entrepreneur Alberto Rossi of FMG first supporter of the project and the Sulvic Cultural Association with President Gianni Sulpizi.
“Upstream of this project,” explained Councillor Antonini, ”there is one of interregional cooperation called CROWDFUNDMATCH, which intends to implement regional regulations on crowdfunding in order to encourage the use of this tool as an additional channel for businesses to access credit.
The Marche Region has issued a pilot call with a focus on cultural/creative projects and product/service innovation.
This is an initiative that brings in interesting implications of novelty and enormous potential, as it allows for a dialogue between the public and private sectors.
Today’s is one of the projects that received grants, and I am very pleased with the outcome and its purpose, which will provide the young people involved with the opportunity to face life with positivity.”
This was a call for proposals whose total budget amounts to € 50,000. The Marche Region will grant a contribution of 50 percent of the planned expenses for the realization of these projects (with a maximum contribution of €10,000.00 per company), in case the crowdfunding campaign of the selected companies raises the sums envisaged when applying for the contribution.
The Ancona Yacht Club project will allow participants to get involved,
actively and equally experiencing themselves as crew on a boat.
An experience that combines the power of the sea with the transformative tools of psychotherapy. Each participant will have the opportunity to deal with his or her own traumatic experience, transforming suffering into a resource, and all this in a protected and stimulating environment, giving those who have lost the will to live a chance to see the light again.
A journey of discovery and rebirth in which one comes out of loneliness, becomes a crew and faces the sea as a metaphor for life.