SEA MARVEL Plastic Free Schools

The initiative “Plastic Free Schools” is one of the objectives of the Interreg Italia-Malta cross-border cooperation programme called SEA MARVEL. The initiative is aimed at primary, lower secondary and upper secondary schools located in Sicily and Malta.

At the core of SEA MARVEL is training, involving in particular the youngsters, in order to implement an active peer-to-peer education and increase the number of citizens who are responsible for and aware of issues linked to the environment. In this way, such citizens will have the chance to inspire others and raise their awareness on the topic. The main goals are to reach 15 schools located in the areas of the Natura 2000 sites both in Sicily and Malta, to raise awareness among students and teachers, school staff and families about the importance of eliminating single-use plastics and to finalise the implementation of a protocol of understanding created with the non-profit association Marevivo, which has an extensive experience in the field at a regional and national level.

Several skilled experts – such as marine biologists, environmental guides, volunteers of non-profit organisations – will guide such awareness meetings, supported by the presence of managers of the Marine Protected Areas, scholars and members of NGOs.

Therefore, the participating schools will start a guided transition towards the elimination of plastic used in school buildings, thanks to the support of infographics and branded water bottles.