School of Excellence kids learn to save lives

A selection of School of Excellence youngsters have been chosen to partake in a beach lifesaving course which will culminate in them becoming qualified beach life guards. Not only will this course give the learners a very valuable life skill it will also provide them with a potential employment opportunity with a certified qualification that could allow them to work any where in the world.

The initiative being run by, Hope Through Sport will take the kids through a three month training program ending with them taking their written and practical tests with the South African Lifesaving Association. Godfrey Afrika, Founder of Hope Through Sport said, “Getting your lifesaving qualification is such a valuable skill, yes it’s a qualification that can create employment for you anywhere in the world, but more important than that, you learn to save lives”. An important message that wrung true for Godfrey when he was part of the South African Global Relief Team, the first South African team to assist retrieving victims from the water after the devastating Tsunami that ripped through Indonesia in 2004.

In March the team of children from Umzingisi will compete in their first life saving competition, the plan is for them to then take their exams in April.

Last year there were 97 drownings in Nelson Mandela Bay, of which 95 were non-white. This is a clear example of the need to develop these skills amongst the kids in our township communities.

“I’m so excited about this course, I can’t wait to be able to help people who can’t swim on our beaches…when I finish school I want to go over-seas and get a job somewhere like America or Australia!” – Ntsika Hlekani, 16, Project Beneficiary