Joseph Cunningham, Gleaner Writer
Some of the many children who are part of the SwimJamaica programme.
"We are both Christians who were led by God to satisfy a need," Peter and Cathy Moore said.
Originally from the United Kingdom, they came to Jamaica for 'its beautiful people and the potential they have'.
They are business coordinator and technical adviser for the learn to swim programme, 'Swim-Jamaica', which promises to radically transform swimming in the country.
"We both left lucrative entrepreneurial endeavours to freely give in this way, because the Lord led us to do this," said the couple. Before sponsors came on board, SwimJamaica was financed entirely from their own pockets.
SwimJamaica was launched in January as a non-profit organisation offering programmes that are "progressive, safe, fun and accessible to all," said Mr. Moore.
But why is this programme needed in Jamaica?
STRONG WATER CULTURE
"To change the present situation where the majority of Jamaica's population is unable to swim and to promote a strong water culture to reduce the incidence of drowning in Jamaica," said Mr. Moore.
And with an aim to franchise SwimJamaica nationally, the entrepreneur within him hopes that eventually when Jamaicans think of learning to swim, the name SwimJamaica will be just as synonymous.
The programme has already received recognition and is the first officially licensed learn-to-swim programme of the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica (ASAJ).
"Swimming in Jamaica has never had anything like this before," said a pleased ASAJ Technical Director Jackie Walter. "It must have a great impact and if we can get it into G.C. Foster College we can get people to teach the programme in schools."
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
However, noted Ms. Walter, the secret of the programme's success is straightforward: "Cathy amalgamated what they have in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States and it is fully detailed with lesson plans from start to finish."
Currently, there is a programme for adults, one for children and a career development programme that provides instructor-training courses all programmes are based at the National Stadium pool in St. Andrew.
The children's programme was launched with 50 students from four Kingston schools, including sixteen from three Trench Town basic schools whose fees were subsidised. However, she said at the start of the third term in September, there was a big increase with over 220 students from 10 schools.
In October, SwimJamaica also formed a partnership with the National Housing Trust's Inner City Housing Project to provide swimming lessons for 32 children from its recently-completed Denham Town Housing Project.
"SwimJamaica is different from other learn-to-swim programmes in Jamaica, because it is structured, which means there is a set lesson plan," said programmes director Wendy Lee. All instructors must be 'Life Guard Certified' and meet SwimJamaica's standards of proper 'stroke techniques' and water safety.
Here's how to contact SwinJamaica Email: info@swimjamaica.com
Wendy Lee, Programme Director (876) 881-533
Cathy Moore, Technical
Adviser (876) 926-1514
Peter Moore, Business Coordinator (876) 926-1514
John Eyre, President, Jamaica Swimming Association (876) 371-1229
Office address:
National Stadium Pool, Independence Park , Kingston 6
