Swimmers of all ages took on the challenge of swimming a mile at the Roedean School pool to help fund the new learn-to-swim programme at Johannesburg Girls’ Preparatory School in Hillbrow.
Social responsibility coordinator at Roedean Charlotte Hulley explained that Roedean was required to run a learn-to-swim programme at an under-resourced school in order to qualify to enter the Prestige Cup Water Polo Tournament.
After working to establish a learn-to-swim programme at Houghton Primary school for the last eight years, Roedean decided to move on to assist girls at Johannesburg Girls.
“It’s not about charity but rather about social development and making a sustainable difference for them,” said Hulley.
Roedean aims to teach 130 Grade Rs to be water safe through this programme. “We have employed a swim coach and are busy training other coaches to get this done. This will be a three- to five-year programme,” she explained.
Roedean is reliant on donations to bring this about. The Splash Aid Mile Challenge brought together friends of the school of all ages to participate for a R200 fee as individuals or teams to swim a mile at the Roedean pool in aid of the cause.
“This is the first event of its kind and we hope to raise in excess of R10 000,” said Hulley.
Rob Mackay who swam the full mile said, “I think it’s a great cause. Anything where you can get out and help others is worthwhile.”
Shirley de Bruin who is training as a learn-to-swim coach at Johannesburg Girls said, “It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that Roedean has given us. Our learners love water but are afraid of it so it means a lot that someone will teach them to swim.”
Learn-to-swim coach Lerato Khumalo said, “I love my job and have already seen improvement in the kids since I started work there in January. I would like to see all the girls at the school learn to swim.”
The event raised in excess of R14 000 for the cause.
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