Child Protection South Africa Project #7532

School and water safety for South African kids

by Love to Langa

School and water safety for South African kids

Jun 10, 2019

Water safety update

By Kissmea Adams - Board Member, Love to Langa

Love to Langa Swimming Academy is going from strength to strength. The appointed swim school contractor operates daily at Philippi Children’s Centre.

Philippi Children’s Centre pupils swim on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Private pupils from the community swim on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, Saturdays and Sundays.

There are currently 60 private pupils and 37 privately sponsored students and the swim school contractor is currently breaking even. The swim coach receives ongoing assessment and training to ensure he is doing the best training possible. Generous donors through the current swim contractor donated swim suits for the children.

The current swim contractor’s contract is coming to an end in 2019. The Philippi Children’s Centre management committee will be interviewing several swim contractors, including the current contractor.

As this is a Love to Langa project, the board members are consistently monitoring and evaluating the project going forward.

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Mar 12, 2019

Volunteer visit

By Amy Ostroff - President, Love to Langa

Nada in front of the land for our new Montessori

We have many wonderful volunteers visit our programs throughout the year but from time to time, there are extra-special ones. Nada from Canada was one of those visitors. She brought a suitcase-full of brand-new toys and lots of energy to share.

Nada visited the schools where we sponsor scholarships, our swimming academy and the site for our Montessori School in Langa Township. The below Youtube link is a short video of Nada talking about her experience.

We are so grateful for her participation and desire to stay involved with Love to Langa going forward.

We are very busy making a campaign video and preparing materials for the Montessori School and are excited to share them soon!

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Dec 17, 2018

Benefit Swim Meet = 350 Lessons!

By Amy Ostroff - President, Love to Langa

Many thanks to The Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania for hosting a benefit swim meet for us! Thanks to their efforts, we are able to offer scholarships for 350 additional lessons to the children at our Love to Langa Swimming Academy at Philippi Children's Center in Cape Town, South Africa!

The event, held on Thursday, December 6, featured 42 different races and a super fun rubber ducky toss, where participants attempted to throw a rubber ducky from a balcony into a small bin in the center of the pool.

We are so grateful for the support this meet is providing, especially since far too few children at the school are able to afford the lessons. Please view the attached short link for a personal thank you from Coach Craig at the Love to Langa Swimming Academy.

With our best wishes for the holidays and a happy and healthy 2019,

The Love to Langa Board of Directors

Links:

Facebook page to view thank you from Coach Craig

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Sep 19, 2018

Take it from a Teacher!

By Jonique Rance - Volunteer

Jonique's visit

This past summer, I decided to take a trip of a lifetime to South Africa. This trip wasn't my typical resort or swamped tourist destination; I wanted this trip to be a learning experience, meaningful and of course, fun. I wanted to seek opportunities that would allow me to use my educational skills and my love for children in much-needed areas of South Africa.

After months of searching and reaching out to organizations, I found Love to Langa on a travel blog and immediately reached out to the co-founder, Amy. She welcomed me to visit some of the projects the organization currently supports. One of the projects is with the Mfuleni Early Childhood Centre. Once in Cape Town, board member Kissmea drove me there and I met the principal, Sandra, who introduced me to the staff and teachers at the school. I was given an opportunity to pick a class to work with. Since I'm a Pre-Kindergarten teacher in Atlanta, GA, I decided to volunteer my time with the 4-6-year-old classroom and teacher Caroline. From the moment I walked into her classroom, she and the children made me feel welcome. Caroline is a very sweet, friendly, knowledgeable and inspirational person. She is passionate about teaching and enjoys every moment with her students. Working with Caroline was wonderful. To be working beside another early childhood educator who is passionate and willing to collaborate in sharing their ideas and knowledge was very special. During this time, we learned from each other. Her students taught me games and songs. I enjoyed sharing games and songs I use at home with them as well. Oh, I had an amazing time with Caroline and her students!

I am so glad to have discovered Love to Langa. Love to Langa is a great organization that is passionate in helping the townships of Cape Town. From the teaching children how to swim to providing early childhood education as well as hosting teacher training workshops. Love to Langa has shown the people of South Africa that they are there to support them. We need more organizations like Amy's that not just help the children but the community. We need more organizations that focus on the community as a whole. Old African proverb "It takes a village to raise a child." Well, it takes amazing organization and it's supporters to uplift a community. I believe that's what Love to Langa is doing for the communities of Cape Town.

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Jun 22, 2018

Swimming lesson update

By Amy Ostroff - President, Love to Langa

Swim lesson

The Love to Langa Swimming Academy has been in operation since 2016.

As of today, Love to Langa is sponsoring the swimming lessons for 25 pupils at Philippi Children's Centre.

The pupils receive weekly lessons from Coach Craig who is a qualified Learn to Swim instructor. Many donors ask what the children are taught at the swim school.

Firstly, being water safe is crucial. The children are taught to jump in the deep side of the pool, turn and kick to the closest wall and then climb out. Children are taught to crawl the along the walls as a safety precaution.

Secondly, the different levels come into play:

Level 1

- blow bubbles

- face in the water

- monkey crawl

- jump in the pool

- starfish float on back

- starfish float on tummy

- pick up fish

- Level 2

- speedboats width of pool

- froggie arms width of pool

- dive with hands entering water first

- dolphin wiggle

- strokes

Level 3

- breathing technique for freestyle

- dolphin wiggle with arm/s

- backstroke dive

- treading water

- froggie kick and board

- speedboat lengths

Level 4

- swim a length of freestyle with a tumble turn

- swim a length of butterfly

- swim a length of backstroke

- swim a length of breaststroke

- competition dive

- sandshark swim

Thanks so much for making this essential life skill available to these amazing children. We appreciate your support!

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