The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation is teaming up with the city to implement community-based programmes that will help save lives. The foundation’s focus is preventing drowning incidents, and educating communities that are a high risk for drowning.
Cape Town has a special place in the ex-swimmer’s heart, she met with Mayor Patricia de Lille to discuss this initiative.
It focuses on using natural resources, such as the ocean and tidal pools to teach community members how to swim. The courses include water safety tips, first aid and CPR, in order to create a safer environment for all Cape Town residents.
Implemented in partnership with Lifesaving SA, the programme will focus on children, in line with goals of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, which works with children across the globe on issues around water safety.
Mayor de Lille said: “I wish to thank the Princess for helping us as the City of Cape Town administration to build a caring city. This initiative will assist in saving lives on our beaches and pools.”
CEO of the SA charter of the Foundation and renowned South African swimmer, Ryk Neethling, said the partnership is an exciting step for the foundtion and city: “Princess Charlene has done incredible work in helping to make the world a safer place for kids, while still allowing them to enjoy the joys of spending time in the water. Children should be able to reap the benefits of playing outdoors and swimming, and our programme will allow them to do so in a safe and controlled way.”
Founded by Princess Charlene in 2013, the Foundation aims to save lives through water safety initiatives. The Cape Town programme adds on to the extensive work done by the Foundation in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
Princess Charlene said, “The mission of the Foundation is to save as many lives as possible through education, CPR and water safety. With the support of local and national governments we can make this more accessible to a wider audience. One person, one family, one community at a time.”