There’s a lot to love about going to the beach; the scenic view, the feeling of warm sand under your feet, and the sun are just a few. But the biggest attraction of a few hours at the beach is enjoying a dip in the ocean.
The guiding principle of swimming can be condensed to five words: Dive in and lose yourself. But for many South Africans, especially children, the joy of a good swim is something they’ve only heard about from their peers or seen on television or in movies. This has nothing to do with a lack of will, but rather a lack of skill.
When you’re watching a seasoned professional tearing through your local pool like an Olympic athlete, it’s easy to assume that swimming is as straightforward as jogging. It’s not.
Water resistance, breath control, and technique are just a few of the factors that make swimming harder than it looks. That’s why self-taught swimmers are hard to come by. So where does this leave budding swimmers? Do young people with aspirations of being the next Chad le Clos, or those who just want to enjoy a swim now and then, give up their dreams in favour of a land-based sport? The simple answer is no, especially when organisations such as Lifesaving South Africa exist.
Lifesaving South Africa is a local organisation that promotes water safety and provides surf rescue services. Wimpy, the home of mouth-watering burgers, grills, and anytime fillers have partnered with this organisation to ensure that kids learn how to swim.
Wimpy is always looking for ways to make the lives of little ones as bright as possible. Whether it’s through the creation of Playworld, which gives children the freedom to play in a safe space, or the provision of edutainment resources to entertain kids while they learn; Wimpy has always been committed to childhood development.
Why Lifesaving South Africa, you ask?
Their work speaks for itself. The organisation trains over 2 000 new lifeguards per year and runs the Learn to Swim Programme for schools and communities around the country. It only made sense for Wimpy to navigate the waters of childhood swimming with seasoned professionals at Lifesaving South Africa.
If you’re interested in learning more about Lifesaving South Africa’s push to promote childhood water safety, click here
