Balwin sets goal to teach 1 000 people to swim

Earlier this year, Balwin Properties CEO Steve Brookes expressed his wish for Balwin to save lives, setting a target of teaching at least 1 000 people to swim.

The project kicked off with Balwin staff in Johannesburg with the hopes of spreading to KwaZulu-Natal and the Cape soon after.

And, for the last few months, brave Balwin staff and family members have gathered every Saturday in Modderfontein to learn the critical life skill of swimming.

To reach the target of 1 000 swim-capable people, the Balwin Foundation has worked with various NPOs to plan swimming lessons in Helderberg and Kayelitsha in the Cape, as well as the South Coast in KwaZulu-Natal, Mamelodi, Midrand and Johannesburg South.

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The foundation can already boast that 60 youths in KwaZulu-Natal were trained in basic swimming.

The foundation has begun training 30 boys from the Maimane Phiri Foundation in Alexandra as part of its Boys’ Development Programme.

Additionally, the swimming lessons fit perfectly with the Alexandra-based foundation’s focus on emotional development, anger management and critical life skills for boys between 10 and 16 years.

The swimming lessons, which are funded by Balwin Foundation and presented by Dragons Swimming Club, has made a huge impact on the 30 boys.

“This experience will change their lives forever. Swimming is very important and saying you know how to swim is a big statement in the black community,” said Petunia Tlhakwana, programme secretary at the Maimane Phiri Foundation.

“The Dragons Swimming Club is excited and honoured to be the chosen service provider for Gauteng where we will assist the Balwin Foundation in achieving its goal.

“We believe that swimming is a life skill that needs to be taught to everyone. This is one of many steps towards a world without drownings,” said Dragons GM Alex Waldauer.

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