According to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), about 600 children drown in South Africa each year, with toddlers (children under the age of 5) being the most susceptible when in proximity to water.
In an effort to save children from drowning, swimming school, Bubble Guppies is teaching children and some adults how to swim.
The school situated in Mabopane, north of Pretoria and has already trained around 300 children, 120 adults and five senior citizens how to swim in just four years. Founder of the school, Lesego Mataboge said that she opened it to give township children an opportunity to understand the aquatic environment and to be comfortable while in water.
Mataboge said unlike children in wealthier areas, township children do not get equal opportunity to learn how to swim.This leads to them growing into adulthood without knowing how to swim, a situation that enforces their disadvantaged position, she said.
“The rate of drowning cases due to lack of water safety skills in townships are high, so the water safety and swimming programmes we have for kids and adults will help spare lives,” said Mataboge.Some of her clients are from the neighbouring townships of Soshanguve and Ga-Rankuwa.
The school has also established partnerships with local pre-schools, namely the Tshibogang Early
Learning Centre and Little Roses Early Learning Centre in Mabopane, Sibongile Early Learning Centre in Soshanguve and The Little Spanish Guitar in Rosslyn, where parents are offered swimming courses for their children.
“Having a bigger facility and opening other branches in other Tshwane townships is our biggest goal as a school in the next five years,” added Mataboge.
This past week the school had a child who participated in a swimming competition (gala) at his school. Seven- year -old, Gaobaone Mataboha competed in the under-8 contests in the freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke. He finished in second place overall.
A grandmother to a seven-year-old boy, who is part of Bubble Guppies, said she was proud that her grandchild is now a good swimmer. “Schools that have such sporting facilities help kids to determine their potential because sports help them mentally,” Nancy Modibela
