On the occasion of International Water Day, Italy’s Prada Group and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of Unesco (Ioc) announce the update of the Sea Beyond project, the educational program launched in 2019 and dedicated dedicated to the preservation of the sea, by providing an update on the three initiatives of the educational programme. The Sea Beyond project underscores the Prada Group's commitment to sustainability, with the aim to educate and raise awareness among the new generation about adopting more responsible and mindful behaviour towards the ocean, in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The initiative focuses on three main pillars: an international educational module for secondary school students; the “Kindergarten of the Lagoon” project in Venice; and the training activities on ocean literacy for Prada Group’s 13,000+ employees. Concerning the first initiative a series of webinars led by Unesco experts, dedicated to teachers and students of the participating schools started in October 2021. These trainings provided an opportunity to learn more about the ten challenges of the Ocean Decade for Sustainable Development. Prada Group and Unesco-Ioc also launched a competition inviting students to freely interpret (using text, graphics or interactive contents) one of the ten challenges of the Ocean Decade. During spring 2022, Prada Group and Unesco-Ioc will launch a competition inviting students to freely interpret (using text, graphics or interactive contents) one of the ten challenges of the Ocean Decade. The projects will be selected by an international jury of “Sea Beyonders”, composed of Enzo Barracco, photographer and climate artist; Fabien Cousteau, aquanaut, oceanographic explorer and environmental advocate; Kerstin Forsberg, marine scientist and social entrepreneur; Valentina Gottlieb, environmental influencer and activist; Hugo Vau, athlete, ocean explorer and surfer. The winning schools will be announced on 29th June 2022 in a dedicated event, during the UN Ocean Conference taking place in Lisbon and moderated by Brazilian marine activist Patricia Furtado de Mendonça.
For the “Kindergarten of the Lagoon” in Venice, Prada Group and Unesco-Ioc are collaborating on an educational project for kids based on the principles of outdoor education that will start in September 2022. The programme will be presented in May in Venice, at the presence of Prada Group and Unesco representatives as well as local institutions. Instead, training activity for Prada Group’s 13,000 + employees continues to be delivered on a global scale, raising their awareness on ocean literacy and encouraging them to play a more active role in protecting the ocean.

“On this important day for our planet, let’s remember that sustainability and the preservation of our resources are closely linked to education," said Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group head of corporate social responsibility. "Even though it is difficult to find solutions for the climate emergency that surrounds us, only through education and daily small gestures, we will concretely accelerate towards the change we need.”