The three-day swimming camp came to an end yesterday.

Children who took time out to participate in the swimming lessons program organized by the Vanuatu Aquatics Federation from Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this week, based in the two communities of Eton and Blacksands, have completed the program yesterday.

Swimming is a risky sport, especially in open sea water, and safety is always the first priority in the ocean or any open water.

VBTC Sports spent time with the Vanuatu Aquatics Federation in both communities and witnessed the swimming lessons conducted by the federation’s instructors for the children who took part in the three-day free swimming camp.

It is a common practice in many islands and villages located close to the sea or rivers, showing that people living in these areas know how to swim in the sea and rivers. However, the federation is encouraging communities to at least gain basic survival knowledge.

Through the free swimming camp, children learned basic techniques to use in case of drowning, signs that show when a person needs help in the water or sea, as well as the use of equipment during such times and basic rescue skills during incidents.

At the Blacksands swimming camp, participation numbers were low, but those who joined were fortunate to gain valuable knowledge from the instructors both on land and in the water.

It was a good opportunity that not only taught children how to swim but also served as an educational program teaching them other important lessons beyond swimming.

The three-day program ended successfully in both communities. Given that swimming in the sea is part of daily life for these communities, participants were happy to learn safety measures to stay on the safe side in case an incident occurs.