Engagement

"UDC Corporate Fashion" involvement in Born in Africa

Born in Africa (BIA) is a South African Non Profit Organization (NPO) whose activities are aimed at stimulating the educational development of youngsters from underprivileged backgrounds living in previously disadvantaged communities in the Bitou district in the Western Cape. By creating better opportunities for youngsters to participate in the labor market, we aim at improving the current situation of social and economic distress. As we believe that good education is not only a precondition for a socially fair South Africa, but that it is above all one of the fundamental rights of the child, BIA focuses its activities mainly on the enhancement of social and educational development in townships situated within the Bitou district. Furthering our children’s education is our main focus and entrenching valuable life skills is just as vital

Life next to the ocean is bliss, but for the majority of the children living in townships, it can also be fatal. With no public swimming pool available in any of the townships where we work, very few children are exposed to correct swimming skills during their developing years. The bulk of the community battle nancially and are therefore unable to send their children via taxi to Plettenberg Bay, let alone pay for the swimming lessons. It has been Born in Africa’s mission for the last 4years to overcome this hurdle and therefore make a positive change deemed necessary.

Each year we elect 2 local schools to be a part of this program More than 600 children from Crags, Wittedrift, Kranshoek and Harkerville have successfully been taught how to swim. This is how it works:

Each child receives 11 swimming lessons. Our professional swimming coach is Chas Frazer who is also a professional life guard and runs the Life Savers association in Plettenberg Bay. Once the children have completed the swimming course, Chas takes them to the ocean where they are coached by him and other life guards on the dangers of the ocean, currents, emergency procedures and much more. This information is invaluable to the children and we have found that once they have learned how to swim, their entire self confidence is boosted and they gain a difierent perspective on life.

 

This is all thanks to Lief & Ivo de Bisschop ( CEO of UDC Corporate Fashion) and their active involvement in the BIA “Learn to swim” initiative. They have financially contributed to this project for the last 3 years and have seen it grow from strength to strength.

They also visit BIA when possible to see the wonderful progress the program has been making. BIA is eternally grateful to them for their participation and commitment.

 

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