uSwim teaches at SOS orphanage

You can view a daily blog from ben at http://uswimaustralia.wordpress.com/

you can also see a video of the trip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v6SZO41zSE

In July/august 2011 uSwim completed its first attempt at teaching children overseas.

The SOS village in Buau Bassin, Mauritius has 98 children, ranging in ages from 4 – 17. This remarkable group of children have seen more tragedy than most, yet they are polite, generous and thoughtful.

Linda, the head of the village has given her life for the village and these children, deciding 19 years ago that this place was her passion. She has married a number of orphans who are now wonderful contributors to society.

The idea was made possible through collaboration with Project dovetail. This organization raises money and goods for underprivileged children around the world. They have had a strong connection to the SOS village.

The goal of the trip was to identify a trainer/teacher who can learn the uSwim’s progression of skills, and then continue teaching a self-sustaining program. To do this Ben from uSwim conducted 7 lessons over 2 weeks, to display the teaching methods and also prove to the potential trainers that the techniques work.

Due mainly to the organization of everyone (including the local government for allowing us to use the pool for free) plus the eagerness of the children to learn, the trip lived up to all expectations. ‘Josset’ has decided she wants to be the teacher and is continuing to be the head instructor.

Despite the language barrier, the children were all able to improve their basics of breath control and floating, with the more natural swimmers being shown the full progressions into freestyle and backstroke.

The final day included a rare trip to the beach to practice the new swimming skills. uSwim is planning a follow up trip in march 2012.

You can view a daily blog from ben at http://uswimaustralia.wordpress.com/

you can also see a video of the trip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v6SZO41zSE

Thanks to Vorgee and Project Dovetail