NURTURING THE NEXT GENERATION OF OCEAN GUARDIANS
Every summer season more than 37 children die from drowning in our coastal waters, not one from sharks. With this statistic uppermost in our minds, in 2011, AfriOceans designed and implemented a unique introduction to swimming and snorkeling programme called ‘Swim like a Shark’ with the emphasis on teaching children, mostly from disadvantaged communities, how to be swim safe and be shark-wise while encouraging a love and care for the ocean.
Given that AfriOceans and our responsible tourism initiative, Shark Warrior Adventures and its Centre, is situated in a sheltered bay, we are uniquely positioned to teach them in the ocean right in front of our Centre, as opposed to a in a swimming pool.
We have taught groups of children from numerous nearby coastal schools including Simonstown school and recently from The Dream Centre, an aftercare centre for Primary school children. Our results have been phenomenal and the children love their time supervised in the water, most of all seeing the wonders of what lies below the surface of the ocean for the first time.
This Programme helps to save the lives of children, not only as an introduction to swimming and snorkelling, but it gives them purpose and meaning by directing children away from gangsterism, crime and drugs; it opens up a world of opportunities that includes interest in ocean-related careers, plus personal development, overcoming fear, and learning new skills.
Every Programme like this needs help to flourish and grow and you can help! $100 will sponsor a child to take part in and complete this groundbreaking initiative. Please help us help grow the future guardians of our oceans and make a donation of any amount directly here:Swim like a Shark
