Youth, Sports, Cultural & Gender Balance

“Music can change the world because it can change people”

Bono

Swimming

In Lesotho drowning is the fourth largest cause of premature deaths.  Despite this drowning prevention gets relatively little attention and few resources. There are no natural lakes and very few large rivers, so there is no tradition of swimming.  In 2014 Action Ireland Trust introduced Swimming Lessons/Basic Water Awareness and Skills, led by Karyn Murphy. With the high accident/ drowning rate in Lesotho it was an opportunity to introduce Swimming – a lifelong skill – as a Sport and to give students a life lesson about water, its dangers and also its pleasures.  It was also an opportunity to give students a totally new learning experience and stimulation outside any they were likely to come across.This program has been a huge success.