Making a splash for kids in need

AN INITIATIVE to save lives by creating a National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Survival Swimming Centre for underprivileged children launched recently.

The centre, at Meiring Primary School in Riebeek Kasteel, consists of a 12m shipping container with a 6m pool which is 1m deep, an office space and a changeroom. It has built-in cameras monitored by the NSRI’s emergency operations centre.

Carlen Thomas, a Grade 7 pupil, said she was grateful to the NSRI for reaching out to her school.

“There were no swimming facilities and pupils did not know how to swim. I am excited that pupils will now be able to learn water skills,” she said.

Her schoolmate, Zeta-Jane de Bruin, said: “I think it's an awesome idea that NSRI is giving training at our school as most of the pupils are from rural areas. I am very excited to learn how to swim.”

Principal Brenton Cupido said: “We are very excited to be the recipient of such an honour – the first swimming training centre of its kind in the world. We at Meiring Primary strive to give our pupils opportunities.

“We are saddened the centre came a bit too late, because we lost one of our pupils, Siyabonga Mthwisha, last year after he drowned in a dam near his house. This centre is for Siyabonga,” he said.

NSRI drowning prevention manager Andrew Ingram said: “This centre combats two critical issues, which is offering underprivileged children access to a safe swimming pool, which many communities do not have, and second, offering the lessons at no cost means there is no financial barrier.

“The fundamental lessons that will be covered during the swimming lessons include how to hold your breath under water, opening your eyes under water and how to float and to safely propel yourself for at least 5m in water.

“Considering that only 15% of the country can swim, and the country’s terrible drowning statistics, learning how to swim should be prioritised as an essential skill that all South Africans have, especially children.

“We are teaching children the basic skills to stay afloat should they find themselves in difficulty in the water,” Ingram said.

| ANDREW INGRAM NSRI instructor Petro Meyer teaches children from Meiring Primary School in Riebeek Kasteel.