Huge international win for NSRI’s survival swimming centres

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Huge international win for NSRI’s survival swimming centres
Huge international win for NSRI’s survival swimming centres

Africa-Press – South-Africa. The National Sea Rescue Initiative (NSRI) scooped the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) award for its innovative survival swimming centres that provide access to safety swimming lessons for underprivileged communities.

The NSRI’s drowning prevention manager, Andrew Ingram said the work the organisation has done has helped to curb drownings, adding that the award was a welcome nod to their achievements.

“It’s an amazing win for the NSRI and South Africa, especially to be up against some of the wealthiest rescue services in the world. It’s a real feather in our cap to have won in the category of innovation and technology again,” said Ingram after the organisation bagged the award last Wednesday.

“We are so proud to be recognised for the work we do and we hope to take it further each year,” he added.

The drowning prevention department started teaching water safety in underprivileged schools in 2006, and taught about 4 500 children. With an increase in number of full-time water safety instructors they were able to start concentrating on drowning prevention and, to date, about 600 000 children are taught each year.

“We teach survival swimming so that as many children can find themselves back to safety in the rivers and dams they swim in within their communities,” Ingram explained.

He added:

The lessons take place in a 12m shipping container with a built in 6m-long pool inside. It is completely self-sufficient and inclusive of hi-tech monitoring equipment to ensure safety and high quality water for swimming.

Testament to the work done by NSRI were the praises sung by Noah Christian Academy principal Nwabisa Nkata, whose school is home to the swimming centre in Tombo Village, Eastern Cape.

“The centre has been a saving grace for us as we don’t have swimming pools in the rural areas thus with children swimming in rivers and dams, they risk drowning,” said Nkata.

“With this award we are hopeful that the win will go a long way in ensuring more work can be done and that the greater community can also benefit from the safety lessons,” added Nkata.

Petro Meyer, NSRI swimming instructor at Meiring Primary School in the Western Cape, said the confidence the survival lessons instilled in the children was unmatched and their comfort in water was clearly visible.

“The children always start out absolutely terrified and when they get confidence over time, it’s as if a new world of possibilities exists for them,” said Meyer.

“We are hoping that we can do more for the children and their communities and hopefully continue to change and save lives.”

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