Mitsubishi Electric and Anffas for the Swimtrekking AUT project
The year-long initiative adapted the sport of swimtrekking to the needs of a group of people with autism to extend the benefits of this discipline and promote sustainability.
The protection of the environment and the commitment to promoting the well-being of communities through hospitality and inclusion are two cornerstones of our mission. For this reason, we have decided to support the Anffas Pisa (Association of Families of People with Intellectual Disabilities and Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Swimtrekking AUT project.
The initiative adapts swimtrekking for people with autism to extend its benefits and promote sustainability. This sport involves swimming in open waters and includes activities like retrieving waste from the water, cleaning beaches, and analyzing collected waste to support the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
The participants in the Swimtrekking AUT project took part in six intensive theoretical sessions aimed at providing a thorough understanding and greater awareness of crucial environmental sustainability issues.
In parallel, the participants followed a structured program of weekly pool training sessions from October 2023 to April 2024. During these practical sessions, the athletes worked to develop and refine various swimming techniques. The program included learning and perfecting freestyle swimming, as well as swimming with a mask, snorkel, wetsuit, and fins, to improve efficiency and safety in the water. The program also included lessons in freediving and object retrieval, as well as underwater photography.
In May and June 2024, during the final part of the project, the participants engaged in weekly sea outings, applying the skills acquired in the pool and facing the challenges of open water swimming. These practical experiences allowed for direct observation of marine ecosystems, reinforcing the importance of sustainability learned in the theoretical sessions.
We are proud to have contributed to this comprehensive project, which has promoted sustainability, inclusion, and marine environmental protection in a single initiative.
