MASSA Launches Initiative to Promote Swimming and Water Safety Education in Schools

Malawi-The Malawi School Sports Association (MASSA) is set to launch an initiative to promote the delivery of quality swimming and water safety education among school-going children in efforts to promote the sport in the country, writes Alinafe Nyanda.

The move comes after the realization that most schools do not have swimming pools or good trainers, which can help students partake in the sport.

MASSA President, Blackson Malamula, said that the initiative aims to expose young children to the sport and offer them a chance to represent the country in national competitions.

"The arrangement is that as an association, we will be working with school managements, most especially along lakeshores like Mangochi, Salima, Nkhata Bay, and Khotakota, to make sure they have swimming pools or take their children to sports clubs to be trained in the sport because a lot of children in those districts are skilled in swimming," he said.

Malamula also noted that swimming has become a well-paying career and called on parents to support their children in pursuing the sport.

He added that the country has several prestigious schools that have swimming pools and trainers, and with the support of stakeholders, they plan to leverage the sport by ensuring all schools have swimming pools.

The initiative is a step towards promoting water safety and swimming in Malawi, where drowning is a leading cause of death among children.

With the right training and infrastructure, children can learn how to swim and stay safe in and around bodies of water.

The program is expected to benefit many school-going children, and it is hoped that it will also help identify and nurture future swimming champions in the country.