My name is Beth and some people think i'm crazy for doing this.
I've been teaching kids and adults to swim for just over 6 months now, and I feel like I should be doing something a bit different, something that's going to make a difference. So I did my research and found an organisation called Travellers Worldwide, which helps place people in volunteering projects all over the world. Thats where I found out about the kids in Mombasa.
Mombassa is situated on the coast of Kenya (in Africa), so it is essential for children to learn how to swim because many children suffer fatal accidents each year when trying to swim in the sea. When I volunteer on this project, it will hopefully be doing something to reduce these terrible accidents. I will be teaching them an important life skill as well as having fun and learning water safety.
When you think of Kenya and sports, you most probably think of those long distance Kenyan athletes who win the Gold at every Olympic games and win marathons all over the world. You don't think of Kenya and swimming. The sad fact is that there are hardly any swimming pools in schools (or in Kenya) for children to learn how to swim, let alone swimming coaches or teachers. In fact, I have been told I will be teaching them in a hotel swimming pool that the owners have generously let us borrow.
Now that I have decided to do it, I have found out two important (and slightly scary) things:
- I will be the ONLY one doing this volunteering project. As you need to be a qualified swimming teacher to do this project, there hasn't been many applicants. So I will be coordinating the project, arranging the classes, and possibly working with more than one school of children. Lots of work ahead!
- It costs A LOT to volunteer in Africa. As well as the cost of the program, there are flights, insurance, visas, vaccinations and buying equipment for the children to swim with. Now i'm not a rich person, so I intend on helping this project along with lots of fundraising and as more people hear about this project I hope some people might be able to give small donations!
Kwaheri! (thats goodbye in Swahili!)
-Beth
