Adopt a Swimmer LogoAdopt A SwimmerAdopt A Swimmer

Plettenberg Bay

We are on a mission to save lives and create a love for swimming

About

In 2011, Louise Auersberg founded Adopt a Swimmer, a non-profit organisation in Plettenberg Bay, as a way to help children at risk and facing economic disadvantages. Louise’s own struggles dealing with a learning disability and facing many obstacles inspired her to use water as a conduit for healing. For Louise, swimming is a powerful metaphor for facing challenges head on and pushing through adversity. She realised she could take her love for water and helping children and combine them.

Adopt A Swimmer - Plettenberg Bay

When you are in the water, you can let go of your insecurities and worries and be free. Who wouldn’t want to share that with children who could benefit from more light, love, and confidence in their lives?

Adopt A Swimmer - Plettenberg BayAdopt A Swimmer - Plettenberg Bay

Adopt a Swimmer (AAS) was born from this dream and desire to positively impact the local community. The program launched in 2011 in Plett with two children. By 2012, Louise was helping 30 children to find their confidence. The results are inspiring. The character-building and life skills baked into the AAS philosophy can quickly be seen through the way young swimmers start working harder, improving in their schoolwork, and setting goals.

Through the support of volunteers and sponsors, AAS has grown from strength to strength ever since, continuing to positively impact the lives of every child the program has touched over the years.

Sponsorships
Brush stroke graphic

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

— Nelson Mandela
Brush stroke graphic

All participating children learn free style stroke, survival sculling, retrieving objects in 1.8m of water, how to safely enter and exit a pool, lagoon and sea, and floating and swimming in deep water.

Throughout the 12- to 18-month program, swimming lessons are accompanied with other life skills to give children greater confidence and a sense of power.

When we talk about community, we mean it. The program brings so much joy, everyone wants to be involved. This means that during the program, children also enjoy:

  • an outing to Plett’s NSRI Station
  • snorkelling with The Black Mermaid foundation during the Plett Ocean Festival
  • beach clean ups with Cape Nature
  • a sea trip with Ocean Safaris
  • lessons in the local lagoon
  • a breath holding workshop with world-renowned founder of Ocean Child, John McCarthy
  • an environmental education workshop with Shark Spotters
Adopt A Swimmer - Plettenberg Bay

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”

How AAS programs work

AAS has two qualified instructors and 8 volunteers (six of which are junior lifesavers and one senior lifesaver). We have secured the use of the pool at the Health and Fitness Centre in Piesang Valley and a private heated outdoor pool for winter months.

Swim caps are donated by Ocean Safaris, and towels and swimming costumes are donated by the community when needed, so participating children do not need to supply their own.

Periodic evaluations are conducted and recorded to track the progress of the participants. This data is used to report on outcomes and results to stakeholders and donors. We are a results-orientated organisation.

Our goal is to save lives, improve lives, and give our children a love of swimming and slaying goals. We can’t manage (and achieve) what we can’t measure.

Adopt A Swimmer - Plettenberg Bay

Why we need partners and sponsors

We have all the love, passion, skills, and experience in the world – but we can’t do this alone. We need equally passionate partners and sponsors who can see how much good we can achieve in these communities together.

Through partnerships with local government agencies and corporate donors, AAS is building a sense of ownership and investment in our program, which includes our own swimming pool for our local community. Our children are our greatest advocates. They share their experiences with their communities. The joy of our children is infectious and the fact that we are teaching underprivileged children the life skill of swimming is inspiring.

Sponsorship investments help us to:

  • outline the necessary steps and stages to ensure the successful implementation of our project plan
  • monitor the program
  • achieve our goals of promoting wellbeing while empowering children with an essential life skill
Become a Sponsor
Adopt A Swimmer - Plettenberg Bay