Throughout the pandemic, students like Adele and Francesco lost access to school, a place where they socialise, learn and build friendships. The Journey Goes On project brought 22 students in Maratea back together to spend a total of 30 hours playing and learning on the beach.  

The project was promoted by Gennari School and received funding from the European Social Fund (ESF), enabling local sport and culture experts and the community to contribute to the educational programme. 

Italian student Adele was homeschooled throughout the pandemic and admits it was very difficult. ‘Staying at home without talking to anyone or joking with any friends made me feel very lonely,’ she remembers. ‘So, thanks to this project we are recovering what we lost during the winter.’ 

Fellow student Francesco also enjoyed taking part in the project, which incorporates outdoor education principles to offer experiences such as snorkelling and kayaking. ‘You can be with your friends and you can do what you may have never done,’ she notes. 

Students taking part were able to connect with each other after months of isolation and left with knowledge and practical skills, such as water safety, which they can use in the future.