Water Safety

The proposed Aquatics Safety Initiative for Saint Paul Public Schools Community Education will address systemic inequities, cultural barriers and program access specifically around water safety for underserved populations. Our population focus includes East African and Muslim women and girls as well as underserved elementary aged youth within the City of St.Paul. The primary project goals are to create a safe space for East African women and girls and underserved youth populations to have access to basic water safety tools, swim lessons and culturally specific equipment. The proposed course initiatives include: Mother/Child Water Safety courses, School Age and Teen Girls Only Beginner Level 1 Swim courses, and School Age Water Safety Summer Swim Camp. Mother/Child Water Safety Course: Provide East African and Muslim Mothers with a culturally responsive water safety curriculum that cultivates an environment where participants can experience and learn water safety with their children. We propose to offer; - Six courses of water safety and swimming skills (8-sessions each) over the course of the grant year - 60 Adult/Child pairs (120 people total) of East African and Muslim women will gain basic water safety and swimming skills in an all-female pool setting, along with a free swim kit School Age and Teen Girls Only Beginner Level 1 Swim courses: Provide East African and Muslim girls/teens with a culturally responsive water safety curriculum that cultivates an environment where participants gain fundamental swimming skills and learn water safety. - Six courses of water safety and level 1 swimming skills (8-sessions each) over the course of the grant year - 60 East African or Muslim girls will gain basic water safety and swimming skills in an all-female pool setting, along with a free swim kit School Age Water Safety Summer Swim Camp: Provide underserved elementary aged youth enrolled in Saint Paul Public Schools Community Education summer programs access to water safety and swimming skills to enhance participant confidence in and around water. - Six courses of Summer Program water safety and swimming skills (8 sessions each) - 60-80 elementary aged youth enrolled in Saint Paul Public Schools Community Education summer program will gain basic water safety and swimming skills, along with a free swim kit. The funding from this grant will provide the fiscal resources to successfully implement the proposed goals and objectives of the water safety education programs outlined above. The total grant request in the amount of $24,000 will be used to provide access to free programming and culturally appropriate swim kits. Through the proposed programming we will decrease swimming disparities, increase cultural awareness and provide access for underserved populations. By providing participants with the ability to gain confidence around water it is our mission to support further water exploration that results in a decrease in drowning and water related accidents.