Each one teach one

Students, teachers and farmworkers at Stettyn Family Vineyards received their first drowning prevention workshop in May, as part of the NSRI’s ongoing mission to reduce drowning incidents countrywide.

Fun, funny, informative, inspiring, energising! That’s how one participant described the recent drowning prevention workshops held at Stettyn Family Vineyards for the farm’s primary school students, teachers and farmworkers, as well as a creche. The workshop, facilitated by Drowning Prevention regional team leader Caville Abrahams and Drowning Prevention instructor Eoudia Erasmus, educated over a hundred children, as well as teachers and farmworkers, on how to remain safe in and near water.

“It was so well received,” says NSRI community fundraiser Renée Leeuwner, who attended the workshop. “It really empowered them, especially the adults. You could feel it.”

“The farmworkers really felt it was needed,” says Caville. “They were very happy to receive this knowledge.”

It is hoped that those who received instruction will share their knowledge with friends and family who did not attend the workshop, and there are plans to follow up with in-water training through the NSRI’s Survival Swimming programme later in the year.

Stettyn Family Vineyards will be supporting this important work by donating the proceeds from selected products to the NSRI’s Drowning Prevention initiatives. The NSRI commends Stettyn Family Vineyards on its commitment to water safety education, as alcohol is a significant contributing factor in many drownings.

The NSRI would like to challenge more alcoholic beverage producers to carry the National Sea Rescue Institute’s safety label, which includes messaging about the dangers of drinking and going into any water body, and will ensure that a portion of proceeds contribute towards water safety education.