Being able to go to the beach or local pool is a common summer past time in Australia. But for a group of six Sudanese refugees it hasn’t always been a safe way of keeping cool whilst enjoying the warmer months.

For the last six weeks the Sudanese adults have been changing that by learning how to swim and use proper water safety techniques at the Wyndham Leisure and Events Centre. 

The Sudanese swimming pilot was the brainchild of SpiritWest Services Engaged Communities Coordinator Kiemi Lai through her ongoing relationship with the Anglican Church of Epiphany in Hoppers Crossing, the church that has helped the Sudanese refugees find a place in the western community.

The swimming program is one of a long list of community initiatives undertaken by the LeasePlan Western Bulldogs community division.

“For four of these adults it was their first ever swimming experience. This is a significant achievement for the Sudanese people involved and it shows that a program such as this can work in diverse communities,” Lai said.

After five weeks of learning basic swimming techniques and safety, the final swimming session allowed parents to bring their children, all under the age of five, down to the pool where. For the first time in their lives, Mum’s and Dad’s had the chance to pass on their very own water safety skills to their children.

Sudanese swimmer Morris Taban, who enjoyed learning how to do back stroke, said the skills he learnt during the course would help his children in the future.

“This was the first time I have been able to take my children to the pool and they love it. I will definitely keep coming to the pool so my children can learn some of the things I have,” Taban said.

 “I could hardly swim before I started this course. I found it hard to breath and got cramps in my body when I first started. After just six weeks I don’t get cramps and I can blow bubbles under water.”

To understand how significant this pilot program has been, you only need to listen to swimming instructor Brenda Fisher, who said each of the swimmers had improved beyond belief in the space of six weeks.

“Initially I thought I would be able to struggle to get the swimmers to breathe and blow bubbles under water. In the space of six weeks however they can do both whilst swimming freestyle,” Fisher said.

“Take the story of Duku Chaplain for example, one of the swimmers, who almost drowned in the Nile River when he was a child. This swimming program was the first time he had been back in the water since then, so for him to actually put his face under water for the first time since he nearly died is an achievement in itself,” Fisher said.

Fisher believes the program could open doors to more communities like the Sudanese who don’t have natural water skills.

“Long term it would be great if more communities like this could learn the importance of water safety. It would be great if the adults that took part in this program could become instructors themselves so that in the future they can help other Sudanese people learn how to swim and be safe in the water.”

For now, Morris, Duku, Betty, John, Joyce and Elisoma are more than happy practicing their swimming skills with their children at the local pool.