Dear Friends of Golden Sunbeams
Today we’d like to tell you about a new Golden Sunbeams project that focuses on learning to swim.
According to the NSRI (National Rescue Institute), only 15% of the population in South Africa can swim. Added to this is this alarming statistic: approximately 1,450 people drown each year, 450 of whom are children under the age of 14.
Although many children in South Africa live near rivers, lakes, or the sea, only one in seven can swim. Children drown because they haven’t learned to swim, as many schools don’t include regular swimming lessons in their curriculum. Learning to swim can reduce a child’s risk of drowning by up to 88%.
The idea for this project came from Dita and Jörn-Erik Fröhlich. When they wanted to invite their sponsored children on a beach trip this year, we advised them against it due to the enormous responsibility involved. Liza, Liam, and Nazeem couldn’t swim at the time. So, together with Beatrix and Klaus-Detlev Fröhlich, they promptly donated the amount for regular swimming lessons for their three sponsored children. We are very confident that the next time the Fröhlichs are in South Africa, they will be able to make up for their beach trip with Liza, Liam, and Nazeem, because by then the three of them will definitely be able to swim.
Although they were very nervous during their very first lesson in the small pool, they focused on their trainer Freddy and gave him their full attention.
After they overcame their initial scepticism, it was clear how much fun the children had at their first swimming lesson.
And, after that first lesson, that lasted 1.5 hours, the children immediately felt much more confident. They eagerly anticipated the next Saturday and could hardly wait to spend another 1.5 hours in the water with their swimming coach.
Our sponsored children live in the township of Macassar, a suburb of Cape Town. The indoor swimming pool is located in Strand, across the Bay from Cape Town, and can be reached by car in about 15 minutes. Our swimming coach also comes from Macassar; he picks up the children every Saturday morning and then drives them to the swimming pool in Strand. There is a large competition pool measuring 25 x 50 metres and a smaller pool for children.
For eight weeks, Freddy has been training the children regularly every Saturday morning, and they are all making great progress.
In this short time, the children have already managed to swim and train in the large competition pool without any fear.
“Children who can swim are more confident and self-assured. They have more confidence in themselves. This changes their whole life.” Quote from Thandi, a swimming coach in KwaZulu-Natal.
We have another sponsored child who has the opportunity to learn to swim. Joshua Cupido lives in Sir Lowry’s Pass, one of the poorest townships in the region. He is also fortunate enough to have a sponsor at Golden Sunbeams, who covers his tuition for a private school. Regular swimming lessons are part of the curriculum there.
Joshua is a sporty and active boy who is very grateful that his sponsorship has opened up the world of swimming for him.
Our Covenant Kids kindergarten in the Rusthof township is fortunate to receive support from “The Darcey Sunshine Foundation”. This foundation offers a survival swimming project. Each child in the Covenant Kids Grade R class who participates in swimming lessons received a bag containing a swimsuit, a swimming cap, and a towel. A qualified swimming instructor teaches the children how to swim in warm water. George, the husband of Chrizell, the principal, drives the children to and from swimming lessons in his car.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors for regularly supporting their children. And we thank our kindergarten teachers, whose dedication helps the children gain more self-confidence: through additional swimming lessons, but also through trips to the beach or the swimming pool. This gives their children the opportunity to develop a love of swimming and being in the water and to gain self-confidence.
We wish you a wonderful start to the European summer season! Even though winter officially begins here on June 21st, we are still happy and glad that the dark season will then be over and the days will become longer and brighter again at the Cape.
Best wishes yours
Britta and Claudia