Free summer learning initiative in Seine-Saint-Denis: Teaching children how to swim to prevent drowning incidents
In an attempt to address a significant swimming issue in the region, the territorial collectivity Est Ensemble, situated east of Paris, has been implementing the Learn to Swim program since the summer of 2024. This initiative offers free, intensive swimming courses for children aged 4 to 12 years old during the summer months.
The program, which aims to help thousands of children each summer gain essential swimming skills and water safety awareness, is conducted across 11 swimming pools managed by Est Ensemble in nine towns. One of these pools is the Maurice-Thorez Swimming Stadium, an Olympic-sized pool where children can learn and practice their swimming techniques.
At the Maurice-Thorez Swimming Stadium, a 12-year-old boy named David stands frozen at the top of a diving board. He is one of the many children who have benefited from the Learn to Swim program, designed to combat the issue of children struggling with swimming skills.
According to a 2021 study, nearly three out of four children in this department struggled to swim when they started 6th grade. This swimming issue is a concern that Benoît Garance, head of the pools department at the Sports Directorate, is addressing. He mentions that since the summer of 2024, the Learn to Swim program has been open to children aged 4 to 12 in this region.
Each summer, 480 children are welcomed into eight pools across the territory as part of the Learn to Swim program. The pool depth at the Maurice-Thorez Swimming Stadium is 5 meters, providing ample space for children to learn and practice their swimming skills.
The Learn to Swim program is a significant part of the efforts by Est Ensemble to combat the swimming issue in the region. By offering free, intensive swimming courses, the program is making a positive impact on the lives of many children, helping them to gain essential swimming skills and water safety awareness.
[1] Est Ensemble implements free swimming courses for children: https://www.estensemble.fr/nouvelles/est-ensemble-offre-des-cours-de-natation-gratuits-pour-les-enfants
[2] Swimming issue in Montreuil: Est Ensemble's solution: https://www.seine-saint-denis.fr/actualites/natation-est-ensemble-lance-son-programme-de-natation-pour-les-enfants-de-4-a-12-ans
The Learn to Swim program, hosted by Est Ensemble and aimed at children aged 4 to 12, is not only for improving swimming skills and water safety awareness but also serves as a vital part of education-and-self-development and health-and-wellness. As a comprehensive learning experience, this program aligns with science, providing children with essential knowledge about their bodies and the world around them. Additionally, by incorporating fitness-and-exercise into the swimming lessons, the program fosters overall physical well-being and promotes the lifelong practice of regular exercise.
