In the beating heart of innovation and change, two childhood friends, Leone Ortega and Giacomo Arrighini, are charting a revolutionary path through their project, “Wind Of Change".
Raised in Prato, sharing varied passions from the love for the sea and sport to technology, these visionaries have channeled their entrepreneurial spirit and desire to make a difference into an initiative that promises not only to raise awareness of environmental issues but also to act as a beacon of hope and innovation.
Through “Wind Of Change”, they are committed to challenge climate change, promote a sustainable lifestyle and, above all, protect natural beauty which inspired them so much.
This interdisciplinary project embraces sport, environment, technology and science in an adventure that promises to leave a significant imprint not only on Italian shores but also on the hearts and minds of people globally.
Let's find out more in this exclusive interview with the organizers!
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Hello lads! First of all, introduce yourself: tell us who is behind this project and what you do for a living!
Hi everyone! So, behind this project there are Leone Ortega, the founder, and Giacomo Arrighini, the co-founder. We both grew up in Prato together and have known each other since kindergarten, sharing a love for the sea, the wind and the waves.
Currently, while we wait for the moment of departure, Leone plays the role of social media manager and was a football player, while Giacomo works as a programmer and is also a crossfit coach at the Crosscave gym.
This common bond for the sea and sport inspired us to create Wind Of Change, a project that unites the environment, sport, science and technology.
How did the idea for Wind of Change come about? And why this name?
The project was born from our passion for the sea and the desire to create a unique initiative focused on it. The name is inspired by the famous Scorpions song, symbolizing the wind of change.
For the Scorpions at the time, this represented the end of the Cold War and a rebirth of hope. We have reinterpreted this meaning, applying it to our generation and its desire to fight climate change and waste.
We are aware that we do not live in utopia, but we want to raise awareness as many people as possible about the changes in the Italian sea.
What are the pillars on which the project is based?
Our project is based on four pillars: sport, environment, technology and science. From a sporting point of view, Leone will undertake an adventurous undertaking by circumnavigating Italy by canoe, starting from Venice, crossing the Strait of Messina and finally arriving in Genoa.
Giacomo will follow him at each stage with a minivan, taking care of safety and organisation. As regards the environment, in collaboration with the Plastic Free association, we will organize cleaning operations along the beaches of the peninsula.
Before departure, we will publish the stages where the waste collection events will take place. As for the technology, every stage of waste collection will be tracked and recorded digitally on a blockchain network.
Each person will be able to verify all the data collected (weight, identity of the person, location, etc.) via our website.
Finally, on the scientific side, we will be provided with tools to measure the pollution of the Italian marine ecosystem. This data will subsequently be analyzed by institutions and consortia.
Some data, such as sea temperature, will be available directly on our site.
Why the idea of circumnavigating Italy by canoe? What will the management be like?
The idea of circumnavigating Italy by canoe was born from Leone's desire to combine the sporting and mental aspect with an experience of complete immersion in nature. It is difficult to explain the feeling of being along the coast, surrounded only by the noise of the waves and the wind, while having the opportunity to admire one of the most beautiful coasts in the world with the aim of preserving its beauty.
There are already too many beaches in the world defaced by waste. During the route, Giacomo will take care of the food and drinks. Fortunately, the minivan is equipped with two beds and stoves so you can prepare quick meals, as well as provide water. As for physiological needs, we had thought about bringing a portable chemical toilet along on the trip.
Food management will be critical to the success of the business; we are both looked after by nutritionists who have developed a program suited to the particular needs of the trip.
As you mentioned before, there is a very important association behind this project and, together, you have set up a system for collecting and measuring aquatic pollution. Can you explain it to us?
Yes exactly. Behind this project we have Plastic Free, a very important partner for us. For those who don't know, Plastic Free is a non-profit organization that has over 260.000 volunteers and has been involved in protecting the seas for years.
Together we will organize waste collection events along the Italian coast and, in particular in Salento, we will organize a special event in collaboration with the waste collection centre. recovery of sea turtles.
You often talk about ESG. What does it mean? And what are yours?
In our project we like to talk about ESG because they are increasingly important elements in the requirements that a company must have.
For those who don't know, the ESG they are criteria used by investors to evaluate the performance of a company not only from a financial point of view, but also with regards to the social and environmental impact of their activities.
There are four that distinguish Wind Of Change:
- Health and wellness: thanks to the sporting action we will carry out, we promote an initiative for physical and mental well-being.
- Life under water: Through waste collection and the scientific studies we will conduct along the way, we will preserve marine life by taking measures to reduce pollution, protect ecosystems and promote the sustainability of marine resources, thus helping to maintain the oceans as a vital source of biodiversity.
- Business, innovation and infrastructure: thanks to the waste tracking system developed together with ApuanaSB on a blockchain network, we support responsible innovation and the development of sustainable infrastructure. We focus on creating solutions that meet current needs without compromising the future.
- And finally we have a fight against climate change because we will calculate every single emission and plant as many trees as necessary as well as cleaning up waste from the beaches.
All these elements serve to entice a potential investor to embrace Wind Of Change.
How did you decide the stages? And what will be the planned ones?
Regarding the planning of the stages, it was not easy to find the best way to be as precise as possible.
Since the trip will last 3 months, from May to July, we have decided to divide the planning into two phases. In the first phase, we estimated the intermediate stages by giving a reference range that includes the province and the estimated arrival period.
This approach is necessary because the further away the stage is, the greater the possibility of unexpected events and variations.
In the second phase, we have a more precise calculation of the stages, dividing the route week by week. This way, we can more accurately predict your daily route, taking into account weather conditions and other factors
When will the official departure be? And where will you start from? Will it be possible to follow you in real time?
The official departure is scheduled for May 1st from Venice and we can't wait to get started. It will be possible to follow Leone in real time at each stage via GPS, or through our social media, such as our Instagram account @windofchange_italia.
One of your stops will be Pietrasanta, right? What will you combine?
Correct, during our trip we will pass through Pietrasanta, but we will not stop. However, before we leave we will be guests from April 20th to 22nd Pietrasanta Beach Throwdown, participating in the CrossFit® event and promoting our project!
You told us that there will also be a fundraiser, right?
Exact! During our trip, we decided to launch a fundraiser to support the sea turtle recovery center in Calimera, in Salento.
This center plays a fundamental role in treating injured or distressed sea turtles and reintroducing them into the sea, thus contributing to the conservation of this precious species.
Sea turtles are among the animals most affected by plastic pollution in the oceans. They often confuse plastic bags with their natural food, jellyfish, and this leads to serious consequences for their health and survival.
We invite you to join our fundraiser and do your part to protect these beautiful creatures and their marine habitat.
Even a small donation can make a difference and help ensure a better future for sea turtles and the entire marine ecosystem. Join us in this important mission of conservation and change!
Thank you guys!
In short: “Wind Of Change” is more than a simple project; it's a mission, a call to action and a symbol of hope and resilience.
With the official departure set for May 1st from Venice, Leone and Giacomo are ready to embark on this journey transformative, circumnavigating Italy by canoe and bringing with him a message of conservation, innovation and change.
Their adventure, supported by a close collaboration with the Plastic Free association and a large community of supporters and volunteers, aims to leave a lasting legacy, promoting environmental awareness and stimulating concrete actions to safeguard our seas and marine life.
Inviting the public to participate actively, both through physical support in waste collections and by contributing to fundraising for the sea turtle recovery center, “Wind Of Change” represents a shining example of how passion, commitment and technology can converge to make a difference.
By joining this important conservation mission, each of us can help ensure a better future for our planet, demonstrating that the winds of change blow strong and can take us towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly horizons.