Michele Zucca, President of Giunone Soc Coop, manager of the Center for Environmental Education of the Municipality of Genoni, and Director of the Museum Cavallino della Giara.
SUMMARY OF INTERVIEW
Michele Zucca, expert on environmental education from the small city of Genoni in Sardinia, Italy, provides his points of view on how important it is to strive for environmental education for young people. Moreover, he underlines how sport can be used as a way to compare similar values in environmental awareness and inspire young generations to be more active and careful within it.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Introduction and Experience within Youthwork, Sport, and Environment
I have a degree in Philosophy with a specialization in museum management and museum education. For over 20 years, I have been involved in museum management and museum education. The museum facilities we manage through Giunone Soc Coop specialize in activities for families, children, residential summer camps, and schools. Our organization is part of Hands
On! International Association of Children in Museums. Through our museums and CEAS, we conduct various educational workshops on environmental themes and participate in regional projects focused on sustainability and environmental care.
In your opinion, what are the main environmental challenges our community is facing?
The major challenges are certainly related to climate change and the need to educate people about respecting the environment and others.
In what ways do you think sport can contribute to environmental education for youth?
Sport is both a personal challenge and a moment of teamwork and cohesion. It teaches young people to face life with commitment, to achieve their goals through dedication, and to respect their teammates and opponents with a healthy sense of sportsmanship. These same values can be applied to instilling respect for the environment. So, in this sense, it’s easy to use sport as a way to compare environmental education and inspire young people through it.
What steps should we, as youth workers, take to effectively implement these ideas andtackle environmental challenges?
As environmental educators, I think we have the duty to raise awareness among young people about respecting the environment, not only from an evolutionary perspective but also from ethical and moral standpoints. Closing Statement/Suggestions Interacting with young people from different parts of the world helps foster curiosity, respect for others, and the elimination of unfounded fears toward diversity. It also encourages them to aim for high-level goals and global collaboration.
Therefore, opening minds of young people through intercultural encounters and exchange of points of view with peers from other countries can be a great way to drive change, especially when they are part of small and rural communities.