In a significant step toward promoting water safety, 90 students from N’duli Primary School in the Western Cape were given the chance to experience survival swimming lessons for the first time, thanks to the determination of a local instructor.
The children, many of whom had never been in a pool before, participated in a special pop-up Survival Swimming Day after the school was left out of the National Sea Rescue Institute’s (NSRI) Water Safety Programme, which had already reached its full capacity for the season. Eoudia, a dedicated water safety instructor, took it upon herself to ensure that the learners didn’t miss out on this important opportunity.
“I couldn’t let these children miss out,” said Eoudia. “The pop-up event was not only a success, it was an incredibly rewarding experience for all involved.”
With the support of N’duli Primary’s principal, Fezeka Lethunya, Eoudia coordinated the one-day event, which was made possible through the cooperation of the local community, including the Witzenberg Municipality, which provided access to the pool and lifeguards. Despite the challenge of organizing transportation to the venue, parents covered the costs to ensure their children could participate, underscoring the strong community support behind the initiative.
For many of the children, this was their first encounter with water safety training, and overcoming their initial fear of the water proved to be a significant hurdle. “Some children were too frightened to let go of the pool’s edge at first,” Eoudia recalled. “But with patience and encouragement from the instructors, teachers, and even their peers, the children gradually built confidence, and by the end of the lesson, many were floating on their own, all smiles.”
The initiative underscores the importance of making water safety and swimming accessible to all children, especially those in underserved communities. Eoudia’s mission is rooted in ensuring that every child has the opportunity to develop life-saving skills and a lifelong appreciation for water safety.
Looking to the future, there are hopes that N’duli Primary will be included in the regular NSRI Water Safety Programme next season, with the aim of securing more sustainable transportation solutions to make the lessons more accessible for the students.
The success of the pop-up event highlights the power of community collaboration and the impact of providing essential skills to those who need them the most.