Tender To Nave Italia is a not-for-profit organisation founded on 10th January 2007 by the Marina Militare Italiana (the Italian Navy) and the Yacht Club Italiano.

The foundation – supported by SIAD which immediately embraced and believed in this great initiative for solidarity– seeks to make a concrete and significant contribution to the well-being of the weakest in society: Children, youngsters, those who are physically or mentally handicapped, the sick and the elderly, promoting the sea and sailing as a favoured educational, training and therapeutic experience.

The heart of the foundation beats aboard “Nave Italia”, the largest sailing brig in the world, a privileged medium; a 61 metre sailing boat with space for more than 30 guests over and above the crew. But it isn’t simply a floating hotel, but a place where research, education and therapy projects are undertaken. It will also be the first school ship to take on, professionally, the training of those who work closely with disability. In a nutshell, a corsair university, on the move, financially autonomous, which works alongside existing structures as a meeting point for and a place for exchanging different international experiences: An Italian ambassador for education, offering support and training in the seas around the world.

The sea and life on-board create an ideal environment for stimulating a balanced development for individuals, offering new educational and training experiences within the contextual principles of learning, a guided exploration and enrichment of life skills. At sea one becomes aware of one’s own limits and qualities. For this reason the boat is the symbol, the message that living together is possible; a school of life where processes of development and integration start with respect for the weakest.

The foundation has a two pronged approach to its work when carrying out projects: To provide support to the disadvantaged and to train social workers.