It is an exciting time for the children of the Naicovi community who are now learning how to swim and are also being taught water safety this week.
In an effort to teach young under privileged children how to swim, a team of 11 fully qualified swimming instructors from the University of South Australia are currently running the Kushal Lachman Gounder Memorial Swimming and Water Safety Project at the Sonaisali/Naicovi Beach for children of Naicovi in Nadi.
Coordinator, Early Childhood Lecturer Alexandra Diamond says that the training is named ‘Kushal Lachman Gounder Memorial Swimming and Water Safety Project’ in memory of nine year old boy, Kushal Lachman Gounder from Naicovi who drowned in 2016.
Diamond adds that the project that is being run for children who may not be able to afford swimming classes has generated immense interest and support from the parents of the 70 children as well as the Korovuto and Naicovi community at large.
The Early Childhood Lecturer has also revealed that she plans to apply once more to the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan to bring the project back till 2020 in Naicovi.
She adds that it would be immensely beneficial to have the project run across Fiji however this would be a much bigger project and has urged those stakeholders who are interested to have young people learn to swim and know the importance of water safety to also get involved.
Diamond has also challenged parents to take the time to help children to understand water safety as she believes that this works hand in hand with knowing how to swim.
The Kushal Lachman Gounder Memorial Swimming and Water Safety Project will end next Friday.
