The aim of the programme is to teach youngsters and create awareness of the dangers of water, what to do if someone is in trouble, how to react, how to perform CPR (taught to older children) and who to call for help.  The programme also teaches children four skills that will save their lives should they suddenly find themselves out of their depth in water.  They are taught to control their breathing, orientate themselves in the water, float and move at least five meters through the water to safety.  The result of this partnership was 2,108 lessons taught between February and August this year, with just over 300 children completing the programme. Drowning prevention, including Water Safety Education in schools is a mainstay in keeping South African waters safe. On average, 29% of total fatal drownings are children.  This is approximately 450 children drowning over the space of a year in South Africa.

We recently saw pupils from Addington and Woodlands Primary receiving their certificates from NSRI for successfully completing the Survival Swimming Programme. A graduation ceremony took place at uShaka Marine World, where representatives from John Dory’s and NSRI were in attendance and guests were treated to some John Dory’s.  This was truly a proud moment for, not only the pupils but for all involved.

R1 from every John Dory’s Hake and Chips sold is donated to their John Dory’s Zero Waste Initiative to fund more projects such as these.  John Dory’s Zero Waste Initiative’s mission is to foster and cultivate a future where sustainability is the cornerstone of existence, by providing education, support, resources, funding to positively impact and extend the lifespan of our planet’s resources.  This mission includes introducing young people to our oceans and fostering a love for the environment.