What is Get Grenada Swimming?
“Get Grenada Swimming” is a 5-year initiative to teach 8,000 children to swim by offering free lessons throughout the island. It consists of (2) National Learn to Swim Weeks each year where swimmers are offered lessons 5 days in a row.
It also involves ten sites around Grenada that offer more free swim lessons year-round on Saturdays and after-school programs.
Over the years, it has evolved to include Red Cross Lifeguard training and oversight of beach safety.
Here are our results over the past four years.
Over 7,000 swimmers through 2020!
Program
National Learn to Swim Week
School Learn to Swim Week
Sat Free Lessons
Summer Programs
School Swim Programmes
Total Swimmers
(5 sites)
2017
830
404
275
265
144
1,918
(8 sites)
2018
834
686
350
000
138
2,008
2019
614
507
425
039
125
1,691
(10 sites)
2020
747
000
470
329
127
1,560
(10 sites)
Grenada
National Learn to Swim Week
April 6 - 10, 2021
Endorsed by the Government of Grenada’s Ministry of Sport, National Learn to Swim Week has become an integral part of water safety and learn-to-swim initiatives each year.
Our 2020 National Learn to swim week was a big success with 747 children and adults taught. National Learn to Swim Weeks are offered in April and July.
We provide lessons to children and adults throughout Grenada for five days in a row at the same hours each day. We have now held National Learn to Swim weeks since 2015.
We are grateful for the support of sponsors such as Republic Bank Ltd, Sandals Foundation, The Grenada Olympic Committee, the Grenada Scuba Diving Association, SeaBreeze Hotel, Grenada Marine, and various local individuals, businesses, and marinas.
In 2021 National Learn to Swim Week will happen April 6-10th in the afternoons between 1 pm – 6 pm. The School Learn to Swim Week occurs in the second week of July each year. In 2021 this will happen from July 5-9th and be held in the mornings between 9 am and 12 pm. Below are the usually designated sites for our swim weeks:
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Grand Anse – In front of the Catholic Church
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Grand Anse – Camerhogne Park in front of the yellow lifeguard tower
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Grand Anse – In front of Umbrella’s Restaurant
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Grand Mal Beach – Go Cool Steps
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La Sagesse Beach – St David
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Corinth – Grenada Marine, In front of Restaurant
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Sauteurs Break Water – St Patrick
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Birchgrove – St Andrew (Mello's Complex)
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Crochu - St Andrew Cabier Beach
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Gouyave (D’ Lance) - Fishmarket
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Waltham Beach - St Mark
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Bathway – St. Patrick
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Petite Martinique – Morang Beach
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St. Paul – Good Hope Pool
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Carriacou - Lumbadive, Tyrell Bay
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BBC Beach - Morne Rouge
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Soubise, St Andrew - Longwall
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True Blue – True Blue Bay Resort
Video by Amanda John
About Grenada Youth Adventurers
GYA is the non-profit (NGO)
that oversees the “Get Grenada Swimming” initiative.
GYA is also involved in other community activities and works to provide inspiring recreational, leadership, service, educational, and social activities for Grenada youth and families. This nurtures a sense of community, that builds character, teaches leadership skills, and inspires a service ethic.
Recently GYA was involved in a food drive during the lockdown for coronavirus.
Director
Deb Eastwood
Deb Eastwood came to Grenada in 2007 as a full-time teacher and worked until 2011 at several Grenadian schools. During the past 9 years, she founded and directs a non-profit youth organization called Grenada Youth Adventurers (GYA) which has a heavy focus on swimming.
Deb has been working with young people for over 30 years as a mentor, coach, youth leader, Sunday School teacher, and camp director.
For more about Deb and her vision please check out this article. please check out this article.
