The Gambia Press Union (GPU) in collaboration with the Red Dolphins and Life Guard Association, the Sports Journalists’ Association of The Gambia (SJAG) and the Gambia Swimming Association, last Friday, August 19, 2016, launched a one-month swimming project dubbed ‘Swim for Life’.
The project aims to train 25 children aged 8-16 on how to swim with the hope of saving Gambian children from the risks of drowning at sea.
The project was launched at the newly refurbished Friendship Hostel Swimming Pool at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
Twenty five kids turned up to be trained on how to swim. They were accompained by their parents who stayed to watch their kids have their first swimming lessons.
Sang Mendy, acting executive director of the GPU said the month’s project is aimed at producing future professional swimmers, reduce the number of deaths and help curb the number of drown cases in The Gambia.
Bai Emil Touray, President of GPU said the pilot project does not only aim at training children how to swim but aims to develop a bigger project that would produce talented swimmers that might one day represent The Gambia in international swimming competitions.
“In 2016 alone, we have had 28 drown cases in The Gambia and nine death cases due to drowning,” said Jainaba Jallow, president Red Dolphins Life Guard Association.
The launching ceremony was also graced by executive members of the SJAG.
Additional reporting by Sang Mendy
by Alieu Ceesay