SARDINIA
Andrea Grondona, 17, lives and studies in La Maddalena, an island of the northern tip of Sardinia that bases its economy on tourism while at the same time allowing its inhabitants to understand what respecting the environment really means. He has always been interested in nature and is conscious of the problems that risk compromising it and is therefore keen to promote an eco-compatible lifestyle. During his project he intends to collaborate, together with students from his school, with the beautiful Maddalena Archipelago National Park to obtain some hands-on experience and through presentations and leaflets sensibilise the public on the effects of climate change on their environment.
“I am really interested in protecting the sea’s eco system around La Maddalena and I feel particularly involved as my town will be the headquarters for the next G8 and I can see how this is positively changing my town with old military bases and deposits of munitions being replaced by useful structures for the city. There is a real need to find a compromise between the local economy while respecting the environment.”
Valentina Cadeddu and Mara Pianu, 17, both live in Macomer, a small town situated in the heart of Sardinia and are taking a course in tourism as this sector is very important for their region.
“We will use our award to make a documentary film and short “spots” to put on the internet. It is very important to make people aware of environmental problems. If we young people don’t do something soon to save the planet who will?”
SICILY
Lorenzo Di Palma, 17, lives in Carini, a small town near Palermo, Sicily. He is very confident and communicative. Conscious of the problems caused by climate change he aims to put together a presentation reflecting the effects of climate change in Sicily and in other parts of the world, giving talks in his own school and then expanding his network to other towns. He will also use Facebook to communicate his thoughts, and aims to set up a network of similiarly minded people.
“I live in Sicily which is known as the Island of the sun .. simply the best place to use alternative energy sources. Everyday I enjoy a place where we have an incredibile number of sites on the UNESCO world heritage list, a place whose landscape and nature was described as an amazing place by Goethe, Guy de Maupassant and Toqueville about 300 years ago and that still today astonishes its visitors and inhabitants. Before our nature will be destroyed forever I want to be an active part of a project to save it and play an important role as a member of a delegation that could convince those who really have the power to start changing their policy.”
Andrea Grella, 17, lives and studies in Ragusa. A passionate windsurfer he believes that it is through this sport that he started to take a closer interest in the environment. Perhaps because of the sea with its colours, the wind with its voice, he now considers nature in a different way and he has now become very interested in renewable energies and, in particular, the use of solar panels. Through his project he aims to target young people, families and companies to encourage the use of solar energy.
“I want to give people the opportunity to improve their quality of life and to reduce pollution. In my opinion informing people is not enough. Through my meetings with solar energy experts I will be offering people the opportunity to resolve their doubts and finally take the step to install solar panels.”
