Massive turnout at Albion ‘Teach Them Young’ swimming programme
In less than one week since commencement, the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry/National Sports Commission teach-them-young swimming programme had more than 100 prospective swimmers.
The annual summer swimming programme, which is free to the public, is currently being held at Albion Estate swimming pool (inside the GuySuCo compound). Qualified coaches from Georgetown are offering swimming lessons for children and adults.
According to Regional Sports Officer for Region Six, Randy Mangru, the turnout has been overwhelming, and the certified coaches are attracting more prospective swimmers. This programme aims to promote water safety and provide basic swimming education while nurturing competitive swimmers in Berbice.
“The coaches are here to teach the kids and adults the basic life-saving techniques in swimming.”
Children and adults being instructed by qualified swimming instructors at the Albion Estate Swimming Pool
“This programme has been beneficial for the past five years. We were not able to have swimmers prior to the past five years at the Ministry of Education Swimming Championship,” Mangru said.
The adults’ programme is where the swim instructors teach parents, schoolteachers, and lecturers. We have some 50 parents in the swimming programme.
The swimming programme is being held from Monday to Friday for children aged six and above. Interested individuals can contact Mangru on 687-8251. This programme, which continues to attract those in Region Six, is being offered weekdays from 9:00 and will conclude on August 8.
The Teach Them Young swimming programme has been an annual event during the school break across Guyana. More than 2000 individuals (kids and adults) benefited from these programmes.
These programmes are usually held nationwide. In addition to the Albion Estate swimming pool, the other venues are the Aquatic Centre and the Colgrain Swimming Pool in Georgetown and the Watooka Swimming Pool in Linden.
The swimming programme, which had a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, was reintroduced in 2022. It has developed into a national policy under the NSC and is tailored to children and individuals aged 18 and under.