With the summer and school holidays in full swing Warobile Lifesaving Aquatics Academy is working tirelessly to keep children off the streets while teaching them vital water safety tips.
Keith Abrahams, founder of the academy, says the 18-day programme aims to teach the children valuable swimming as well as life skills. The programme takes place at the Holy Cross High School in Maitland.
“We have adopted 60 kids between 10 and 16 years old in the Kensington, Factreton and Maitland communities to attend this free programme.
“We want to take them off the streets and keep them away from gangsterism and drugs, so that their parents can feel at ease that they are here,” explains Abrahams.
Abrahams (65), a retired law enforcement officer and lifeguard, devotes his time to train people basic water safety skills.
“We teach the children how to swim, self-discipline, the dangers of drugs and gangsterism. We enhance their physical fitness, teach them basic firefighting and first aid skills.”
Abrahams explains that they want to equip the children with skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. He explains that the programme is divided into two levels.
“For level one we teach them that if you are in the water and find yourself in danger you turn yourself on your back and you float. Put your head in the water and you float. We teach them to lie on the bottom of the pool and pick up their toys. This is so that they can feel confident in the water.”
He explains that level two focuses on more advanced skills such as swimming in the deep end of the pool, lifesaving skills and how to react during drowning.
“We want to continue this programme to fight the onslaught of drugs and gangsterism and we need to do this for our children. We want them to go back to their communities and teach others.”
Bradley Faure, one of the facilitators, says their biggest challenge is a lack of finances. He explains that they buy most of the equipment from their own pockets and appeals for any donations.
He says for the duration of the programme the children are transported to the school and fed wholesome meals daily.
Ziandro Solomons (15) says being part of the programme has been beneficial to him.
“I learnt how to swim, I learnt how to communicate with other people. Its been a good experience. I feel confident that I will be able to help someone when they experience difficulty in the water.”
Toufeeq Philander (12) says attending the programme will assist him in his dream to become a fire fighter. “I learnt how to swim and how to do basic CPR. I am convinced now that I want to be a fire fighter and help people.”
Wayde Flandorp (13) says: “I nearly drowned and uncle Keith saved me. He then taught me the basics of what I must do. Now I am not afraid to jump into the pool anymore. Learning how to swim here is one of the best things that’s happened to me. I have learnt that you must never give up and keep on living your dream.”
One of the facilitators, Casey Muller (17), says Abrahams has taught her basic swimming skills.
“Swimming has been an uplifting thing to do, it has boosted my confidence because I am a shy person. And I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the programme. Now I can become a coach because of Mr Abrahams’ mentorship. I would encourage young people to do sports, because it will get you off the streets and it will have a positive impact on you.
