The SVGSF in partnership with Tropical Shipping has resumed its grassroots learn to swim programme in Owia. This programme is part of the Federations’ vision to support the development of swimming as a life skill for the youths of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Owia programme resumed on Saturday, March 23rd 2024 and is runs every Saturday at the Owia Salt Pond under the leadership of Coach Troy Lavia.
The programme in Owia came out of the Rock Gutter tragedy of January 16th 2015. During that tragic incident it was the strong swimmers/divers from Owia who braved the waters to conduct the search and rescue. It was through this incident the Federation came to know of the strong swimmers/divers of Owia and the incident highlighted the need for more persons from the community to be able to learn to swim. Coach Troy Lavia is the brother of one of those rescue divers. The Federation invested in training Troy Lavia as an open water coach. Since that time, Coach Troy has been conducting learn to swim for the children of Owia. This programme was of course interrupted due to Covid and the 2021 volcanic eruption.
The Federation is pleased that the programme has now resumed, with the support from a new sponsor, Tropical Shipping.
A total of 16 kids are participating in the Owia programme participated so far and there has been great excitement among them. Coach Troy Lavia teaches the children the basic swim strokes, water confidence, and discipline.
The Grassroots Programme is a swimming programme developed by SVG Swimming Federation, under the guidance of Executive Member Louise Mitchell, with the sponsorship of Mustique Charitable Trust back in 2009 to give underprivileged children the opportunity to learn to swim. The first programmes were done for the communities of Rose Place and Layou with the Community Chaperone Empress Modupe and Coach Sarah Smith.
Each programme is carried out by professional coaches with the goal to give attendees other life skills and life saving techniques. It focuses on not only learning the sport of swimming but encouraging them on both recreational and competitive aspects.
Since then, the programme has taught more than 500 children from communities including Sion Hill, Pole Yard, Paget Farm, Calliaqua, Biabou and Liberty Lodge boys. Volunteer coaches like the national swim coach Kyle Dougan as well as Coaches Gary John, Kara Randall and Tauran Ollivierre have taught swimming techniques and teamwork for competitive swimming.
A further 12 week programme, also supported by Tropical Shipping, is soon to commence at Indian Bay, to be led by Coach Gary John, for the children and moms of Pole Yard and some from Sion Hill, in partnership with community leader Ideisha Jackson.
The programmes have taken place over the years at the Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre as well as bays around the country, from Owia Salt Pond in the North to Admiralty Bay in the South.