Suva swimming clubs organize Saqamoli Swim Smart to create awareness on drowning

In response to the recent drowning cases, Suva swimming clubs organized Saqamoli Swim Smart, Water Safety Fair to teach children how to swim.

Babale swim club coach, William Domonatani says Saqamoli Swim Smart is a combined inter-club initiative of the four Aquatic Centre swimming clubs, Babale, Tritons, Dolphin and Orca.

Domonatani says the purpose of this event is to create awareness on drowning cases.

He says preparations for this event began 2 weeks ago with the four swimming clubs as they share the same aim around water safety.

Domonatani says the best time to have a programme like this is during the holidays because families go for picnics to their villages and the beach.

He says they are planning to have a similar water safety programme in December.

Swimming instructor for Tritons, Noelangi Rabua says they are teaching basics in the programme and it has three stations.

Rabua says it is sad that there have been 10 drowning cases in the past three weeks.

She urges children to inform parents or guardians about their whereabouts.

Head Coach of Orca, Esther Malani says this programme is set up in such a way so that it is educational yet fun because children are taking part.

Malani says ORCA is specific on taking people who know how to swim, however, due to the number of drowning cases, they are planning to take in beginners for swimming as well.

She says the children are being guided by swimming coaches and instructors in the programme.

Swimmer and swimming instructor of Dolphin swim club, Herbert Rabua says they are teaching children how to float, survival backstroke and ways to swim against the current from side to side.

He says the participants were aged between 5 to 18 years.

The Saqamoli Swim Smart programme is supported by Fiji Sports Council, Pasifika Tents, Kanalevu Kitchen and Kim's Mukbang.

You can contact Tritons swim club on 7639188 or email rabuanoelangi@gmail.com, Babale swim club on 7341386. Orca swim club on 9404774 or email ejmalani@gmail.com email Dolphin swim club on dolphinswimclub13@gmail.com if you want to learn swimming.