Ecoswim – students swim to collaborate with IPÊ’s mission

A swimming marathon organized by students from the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo, it usually takes place in the Pacaembú swimming pool once a year and brings together an average of 500 swimmers between the ages of 4 and 80. Part of the proceeds from registrations for Ecoswim goes to IPÊ and to the Nascentes Verdes – Rios Vivos project.

Partnership objectives

One of the aims of the organizing committee is to raise awareness among the teams of the importance of nature conservation and, above all, to make the participants defenders and promoters of the environmental cause.
During the competition, around 600 native tree seedlings are distributed to participants who wish to plant them and to reforest the riparian forest in the Cantareira region.

Strategy adopted

The event combines sport with environmental awareness: several swimming teams meet to take part in a fun competition for two trophies – one for the team with the longest distance swum and the other for the team with the most entries. Each entrant gets a sapling from a tree native to the Atlantic Forest, an eco-bag and a T-shirt made from petroleum jelly.
The possibility of engaging people who are adept at a very healthy sport, such as swimming, in a cause that is of great relevance to society is the great motto of the event
IPÊ usually participates in the event by distributing seedlings and exhibiting its products, including embroidered T-shirts, Havaianas sandals, bushes, caps, hats and jams. It also offered ecological mask-making workshops for children, generating a total of 120 visits to our stands.

Results obtained

2010 saw the fourth edition of the event, with proceeds going to the environmental cause. The organization of Ecoswim deserves to be highlighted, as the participation of people of all ages motivated to contribute to a cause is very exciting. The attitude of these young students and sportsmen is extremely commendable. At a time when people are so self-centered, attitudes like these are of immeasurable value. Thanks to this, this year (2010) we will reach the 4th hectare of forest!