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Bahama Hand Print Partners with BIFF
With Your Purchase of the Bahama Hand Print BIFF Official Festival Bag you will help many children learn how to swim.
Let’s Swim Bahamas is the initiative of Andy and Nancy Knowles and was started in October of 2008 with a pilot program for Thelma Gibson Primary school. Andy and Nancy have over 90years of combined experience in the swimming world: Competitive Swimming from the Age Group through to the Olympic level; Learn to Swim utilizing the Swim America franchise; Life Saving with the Royal Life Saving Society of both Canada and Great Britain; and successfully running their own swim club, Swift Swimming since 1990. It has always been their desire to see more Bahamians learn to swim, not only to possibly become Competitive swimmers, but for safety and the enjoyment and appreciation of our lovely Bahamian waters.
To implement the Let’s Swim Bahamas program, existing pools were located that had free pool time and arrangements were made to use them. Andy and Nancy began with the 3 pools that their club, Swift Swimming were presently using and looked for Government Primary Schools that were within a reasonable driving distance. After much negotiating, on October 8th, 2010, a 4 year Agreement between the Ministry of Education and Swift Swimming was signed for Swimming Lessons for Thelma Gibson, Sandilands, Adelaide, and Gambier Primary Schools. With our 4th year nearing completion, we are now seeing the students and parents taking an interest in doing after school swimming. Let’s Swim Bahamas will be setting up a scholarship program for Government School children who wish to continue with their swimming outside of school hours.
Presently, in after school swimming, there are 13 children working on their Swim America certificate; 9 children swimming for Fitness, working towards joining a Competitive program; and 4 have been competing in local swim meets.
Each year we have to raise money to cover costs for Coach’s wages and swim kit items (swim suit/jammer, cap and goggles) for the students. We are now adding scholarship money to be raised for the students who wish to continue to swim with an after school program. Let’s Swim Bahamas will ensure that the Clubs where the swimmers are taking lessons are registered with The Bahamas Swimming Federation and are running viable programs. We will also follow up any swimmer on a scholarship to make sure they are actually attending their classes, and if necessary offer assistance.
We are looking for sponsors to help cover these expenses. All sponsors will receive an end of year expense and written report along with a statistical analysis of the number of students who took lessons and what Station they are working on.
If you are able to assist with this program, feel free to contact us at 324-1167 or andynancy@hotmail.com Check should be made out to “Let’s Swim Bahamas”.
BIFF thanks to Bahama Hand Prints for supporting the Arts & Culture In The Bahamas
Visit Bahama Hand Print at Island Hand Prints Company Ltd. Island Traders Building Ernest Street
www.bahamahandprints.com