1 years swimming for a 100 disabled children

YDOB continues with its swimming program for disabled children.Indonesia is an island archipelago yet very few people learn how to swim. Drownings are a common occurrence with the majority of people having no understanding of the inherent dangers surrounding activities near or in a water environment. However, there are many children who go against the norm and learn how to swim, show talent and skill, and develop a love for the sport and a desire to achieve excellence. Unfortunately these children are in the minority rather than the majority. *World Health Organisation estimates that 2% of all preventable deaths of children in Asia are caused by drowning. In Indonesia, with a population of over 220,000,000 people, (28.4% are aged under 15yrs#) this would equate to over 3,000 children each year will drown. A staggering and frightening figure, particularly when the vast majority would be preventable.                                

In Bali, along the south coast between Seseh Beach and Nusa Dua almost 300 people are rescued by the Balawista Surf Lifesaving each year, with approximately 5% becoming a fatality statistic. Many of those rescued are Indonesians on holidays who have little or no understanding of the dangers and no experience with water awareness and/or survival techniques. Children are our most treasured asset and anything we can do to protect them or to make them safer is well worth the effort. Do you agree?                              

In July , BSF will host the Bali Ocean Swim s is an initiative that through support and assistance of Bali Sports Foundation and the right promotion will be able to provide swimming and water safety lessons for the disabled children on Bali, and in the future, Indonesia as a whole. 

Our Simple Plan:

• Conduct an Ocean Swimming Competition on July 2,2017. Entries are open to both local competitors and overseas visitors.
• The swim is a short 1.2K under the supervision of the Balawista Surf Lifesaving Group at Kuta Beach.
• Event is run for males and females in the following age groups: Juniors (12 to 17 years), Adults (18 to 35 years) and Masters (over 35)
• Money raised from entries to the event is to be used (after expenses are covered) to conduct swimming programs at local pools (thereby generating business for them) and beach locations for children from low income families.
• Any money raised through sponsorships by businesses or individuals would go to BSF for the Bali Swim4Kids program.
• These programs would offer children a 10-15 lesson program to develop water confidence, awareness and safety for children and an understanding of the inherent dangers of water activities.
• Equipment for teaching, such as kickboards and noodles will be provided.
• Each child would receive a pair of swim goggles and a t-shirt at no cost to them.
• Entry to the local pool would be covered by the program and the swim teachers utilised would be paid for from the program.

As the program grows we can train local unskilled Indonesians to become Internationally recognised swim teachers, thereby giving them a skill that they can use to earn money for their families and communities

The swimming program continues with over 120 disabled children in Bali.It is a daunting prospect for any child to learn to swim if they have not been introduced to water environments when babies or toddlers. For many reasons some children are more adventurous and easier to teach than others. Children with disabilities must, not only, overcome their fear of water but also adapt their learning to accommodate for their disability.

However, in many circumstances, particularly children with physical disabilities, learning to swim is an invigorating, empowering and liberating exercise. A water environment is an equalising medium that can see a child with disabilities progress just as quickly as an able bodied child if achievable goals are set from the outset. Learning is no different and teachers need to be patient, considerate but firm with each student.

They don’t see themselves as being disabled, what they see is their normality, it is the same every day and to them, that is normal. The teachers at BSF have learnt to treat the students exactly the same as any student that comes to their classes. They teach to the level of the child, they set realistic goals for each child, they encourage and they challenge and when the student achieves a goal, they celebrate with the child. This may be as simple as learning to float unaided, which is much harder for children with disabilities than for others.

Through the swimming programs at BSF parents and/or carers, plus our teachers, are gaining just as much as the children. They are learning that with or without a disability children can achieve anything they set their mind to, the children become the teachers and anyone who sees them achieving goals and revelling in the sheer enjoyment of their participation can only be inspired in their own life. Learning swimming and water safety is a life skill, something that could save your life and that of another and this is just as important, if not more so, for those living with disabilities.

The Bali Sports Foundations swimming program had its first competition on May 29,2016 with over 60 competitors swimming in the Friendly Games.With more funding we can increase the number of participants.That said we continue with what we can afford and move forward.

RESULTS

Category : Deaf/Mute 50 Breastroke

Finale  Winner 

1 Ayu Intan Melisa MaharaniI 

2 SriwatiII     

Category : Tuna Amutee/Polio  50 Breastroke  

Finale  Winner 

1 Ni Komang SukreniI  

Category : Autistic 25 Breastroke

Male  Name Winner 

1I Kadek Adi Dwi Wirya PutraI 

2I Putu Moreno FerdinandII 

3I Wayan Abhinaya Karawista  

Category :Intellectually Disabled 25 Free Style

Female  Name

1 Ayu TiniI 

2 Ni Luh SekarnitiII 

3 Ni Wayan AriantiIII      

Category : Cerebral Palsy  25 Free Style

Female  NameWinner 

1I Gede Yudita Jaya RanarjaI 

2I Putu Andrayuga Palgunarsa NurjayaII 

3I Gede Edi Saputralll  

Category : Intellectual Disabilities 25 breastroke  

Male  NameWinner 

1I Kadek SugiartaI 

2I Kadek HartawanII 

3OkiIII  

  BSF has been invited to start swimming programs in Lombok in 2017,which we hope to be able to do.

We would to do more with your help,

We have raised almost 10% of the required funds.

BSF has started the swimming program with limited numbers of disabled   but we hope to expand the program to intended 100 children with the help of  Global Giving funding.

Indonesia is an island archipelago yet very few people learn how to swim. Drownings are a common occurrence with the majority of people having no understanding of the inherent dangers surrounding activities near or in a water environment. However, there are many children who go against the norm and learn how to swim, show talent and skill, and develop a love for the sport and a desire to achieve excellence. Unfortunately these children are in the minority rather than the majority. *World Health Organisation estimates that 2% of all preventable deaths of children in Asia are caused by drowning. In Indonesia, with a population of over 220,000,000 people, (28.4% are aged under 15yrs#) this would equate to over 3,000 children each year will drown. A staggering and frightening figure, particularly when the vast majority would be preventable.

BSF has request from NGO's in Bali to provide swimming lessons to

Autistic,

Down Syndrome,

Amputee,

Blind

Deaf Mute

Polio

and many other disabilities.

We hope with Global Giving help,we can do this.