The youth and their parents celebrated these new-found improvements and skills on Saturday at Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre, and organiser Women’s Welfare Australia’s Zainab Jalloh said they were very grateful to the centre for opening up to the dire need among the local refugee community.
“Since 2019, we had actively tried to organise swimming classes for refugee women and youth – without success,” she said.
“Our refugee parents share the same anxiety around their own and their child’s safety in pools, fresh and saltwater, that thousands have who have grown up in land-locked countries with learning to swim never a priority.
“Even if their lives depended on it, they wouldn’t be able to save themselves or their children from drowning without even the basic skills.”
Zainab said they couldn’t thank the swimming centre enough for giving them the opportunity to learn swimming skills which were partly funded by Active Kids Vouchers.
“We would like to hold more classes for refugee children, young people and their parents but need funding and hoping we can get some support from local businesses or individuals.”
To make a donation: womenswelfare.org.au.
