The swimming outreach programme at B’s Swim School in Bryanston was founded with the aim of promoting water safety and teaching underprivileged children how to swim.
The programme is up and running and many underprivileged children are well on their way to becoming more water safe. The swim school’s founder, Brendan Varrie said, “Our swim safe outreach programme started on 23 May with 18 children from around the northern suburbs of Johannesburg. We have been able to enrol 10 children from Over the Rainbow playschool in Bryanston. The ages of the children from the playschool range from three up to six years of age.”
The swim school has also created an opportunity for the training of new teachers. “Experienced swimming coach, Kyla Heumann is training Rikki Maman to become a B Swim Safe survival swimming instructor,” explained Varrie.
He said that the swimmers have adjusted well and are enjoying the lessons. “Some of the children have arrived with a healthy respect and a built-in fear of their inability to cope or survive in the water. Whereas… [others] appear to be fearless although they have no aquatic skills whatsoever. The good news is that all of the 18 children were swimming a short distance, unassisted, at the end of week one,” said Varrie.
He said that the lessons focus on teaching the children many skills such as breath control and kicking, which all help the children become more water safe. B’s Swim School continues to stress that water safety is of the utmost importance for all children.
Details: brendan@bswimschool.co.za
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