Leisureworld Bishopstown sponsor Lifeguard Training in Africa
Thursday 17 December 2009
The Irish Lifesaving Foundation
saving lives from drowning - worldwide
Leisureworld Bishopstown sponsor Lifeguard Training in Africa
Leisureworld Leisure Centre, Bishopstown, has donated €900 to the Irish Lifesaving Foundation and its Lifeguard Training Project in Soweto, South Africa. The money was donated by parents of children attending personal survival classes organised by the centre staff in association with the lifesaving foundation. The money will be used to pay the lifeguard training costs of at least 10 young unemployed male and female swimmers in Soweto, Johannesburg and the surrounding regions in South Africa.
The donation was accepted on behalf of the training project by Mrs Pat Wilcox (South African Lifeguard Trainer Assessor) who directs the training on behalf of The Irish Lifesaving Foundation. Mrs. Wilcox explained that there are lifeguard jobs available in pools and on beaches in South Africa but many local swimmers don’t have the money to pay the training and examination fees. The money donated will be used to pay the training, travel and basic subsistence costs of unemployed youths. Once the lifeguards are employed they are in a position to support not only themselves but often their extended families as well. Lifeguards are respected in Africa and youths who previously were shown little or no respect find that once they wear a lifeguard uniform they become valued and respected members of their communities.
Mr John Connolly, representing the Irish Lifesaving Foundation (www.lifesavingfoundation.ie) thanked the leisure centre staff and parents for their generosity. The Foundation is a small independent Irish lifesaving charity devoted to saving lives from drowning by financially supporting school and youth organisation water safety training through small embryonic lifesaving organisations in developing countries. Membership of the Foundation is open to any person interested in promoting its aims.
Photo : L to R
Pat Wilcox (South Africa), Bryan O Brien (Leisureworld Bishopstown), Joe Nosford (Leisureworld Bishopstown, John Connolly (Irish Lifesaving Foundation)
John Connolly e-mail : lifesavingfoundation@ireland.com
Hon. Chief Executive 086 8128671
The Irish Lifesaving Foundation
17th December 2009
