The Sandals National Learn to Swim Week, held last week, successfully engaged 438 students across 12 locations.
Deb Eastwood, Director of Get Grenada Swimming, remarked, “We were uncertain about proceeding in the aftermath of the hurricane, but our board members and sponsors proposed that the swim week was beneficial to all and should continue. We were so grateful for the Sandals Foundation and their support on moving ahead.”
Board Member Lotten Haagman-Friday commented, “In the wake of the recent hurricane, we recognise the challenges families are facing. Our sympathies are with those who have suffered loss and hardship. During such times, it is crucial for our community to unite and find moments of joy. Young people need opportunities to have fun, learn new skills, and create positive memories. This swim week is more than just swimming lessons; it provides a safe and inclusive environment for children and teenagers to connect, make friends, and enjoy themselves. We are grateful that we decided to hold the event. Although attendance was not typical for the July swim week, hundreds benefited from the activity.”
Just days after Hurricane Beryl struck Grenada, site supervisors from the 12 locations began cleaning their beaches to ensure readiness. Sauteurs, particularly hard-hit, saw Omari and his team spend hours clearing debris from the Breakwater to ensure safety. Their efforts were rewarded with the highest turnout of 72 swimmers. Omari stated, “It was challenging to see entire tree trunks and yachts beached on the sand. It was through the collective strength of the community that we cleared and secured our swim zone. With favourable weather for the first 4 days, we had a record turnout. Thank you to everyone who contributed to our success.”
Deb Eastwood stated that they would like to have a couple of “Pop Up” swim weeks during the Christmas break to make up for the communities that were not able to host the regular swim week. Particularly, they would like to focus on Carriacou and Petite Martinique when the time seemed appropriate.
Swimming will be on pause for the next 6 weeks as sites take a well-deserved break during August and will resume when school opens. More information on the Get Grenada Swim programmes may be found at www.getgrenadaswimming.com
Get Grenada Swimming
