Ready, Set, Swim! Program offers free lessons to low-income families, newcomers

Drowning is 100 per cent preventable.

That's the thought that crosses RishonaHyman'smind every time she reads the news about another drowning in Manitoba.

• Kids under 4 in Manitoba are drowning at a rate more than 3 times the national average

The longtime swim instructor wanted to eliminate the financial barriersthat sometimes prevent people from getting lessons, so she created theReady, Set, Swim Foundation

"I think the final straw for me was when I had the experience to teach Grade3 kids at their school and twoout of 18 of them had formal swimming lessons," saidHyman."None of them knew how to swim."

Hymansaid the new program will offer lessons free of charge to low-income families and newcomers.

It will hold three eight-week sessions a year. Each class will have a ratio of four students to each instructor. The kids will be grouped according to age and skill level.

She said students ages six to 18 will be accepted by referral and will be given a swimsuit, towel, bag and shampoo.

'It's heartbreaking'

"It's really important.I have seen so many kids come to pools with just their plastic bag, it's heartbreaking," she said.

On top of removing financial barriers, Ready, Set, Swim aims to remove cultural ones as well. Bathing suits will be culturally appropriate if necessary and translators will be brought in to assist both the kids and their parents.

"We are going to have a classroom component for the parents or guardiansa couple times over the session where we will talk to them and teach them about water safety," said Hyman.

The foundation willpartnerwith newcomerorganizations to get families signed up. Newcomers Employment and Education Development Services (NEEDS) started a swim program last year after three newcomers drowned in Manitoba.

• Refugee organization steps up to teach newcomers how to swim after drowning deaths

"We served over 50 kids last year through our swim program and we have a ton of kids on the waiting list," said Jennifer Tomsich, who runs theYouth After School Program.

Tomsichsaid she will be referring kids to Ready, Set, Swim and applauds the parental component ofthe program.

"When they go to the beach or anywhere there is water, they will have the supervision skills and know what to look for in the future," she said.

Highest drowning rates

The Lifesaving Society says when small children drown, supervision is often an issue. Acting CEO Kevin Tordiffesaid Manitoba has the highest drowning rate of children under four in Canada.

"Initiatives like this that strive to bring swimming to all those who need it are very important in our community," said Tordiffe.

Hyman will be teaching the Lifesaving Society's Swim to Survive program. She said if a student isn't able to swim without a life-jacket after eight weeks of 30-minute lessons they will continue into the next session.

She said right now the foundation is focusing on fundraising to pay its instructors and buy swim supplies. It plans to hold the first free session in the new year.

Ready, Set, Swim!

6 years ago

Duration 1:28

Program offers free lessons to low-income families, newcomers.