Princess Charlene of Monaco Saves Drown Victims
Princess Charlene of Monaco, a former Olympic Swimmer for South Africa, has launched an international initiative to check the number of fatal drownings globally. Death by Drowning is the Number 1 accidental cause of death of children under the age of five.
The office of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation South Africa, currently based in Ballito, funds and supports various Learn to Swim projects aimed at reaching children and adults in previously disadvantaged communities. The foundation has secured association with key role players such as the NSRI to introduce water awareness, water safety and swimming lessons across the country in various communities. Since the foundation’s inception in 2014, more than 40,000 South Africans have benefited from the initiative.
Dominique Donner Rodd, a former professional athlete and close friend of Princess Charlene, was appointed Project Manager of the foundation by the princess. Her husband, Michael Rodd is the CEO.
“Education through sport is close to Princess Charlene’s heart,” says Donner Rodd, “she is passionate about uplifting people where she can. Growing up in Zimbabwe and South Africa, Princess Charlene was made aware of the very high incidence of accidental drownings in communities where people were never given an opportunity to learn to swim. The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation South Africa is hoping to reach as many people as it can, with the ultimate aim of including water safety as part of the school Physical Education curriculum.”
Local projects already undertaken in the Ballito area include a series of swimming clinics at Summer Hill House at Etete where 30 orphan children began the course with an absolute fear for the water and ended with the ability to swim 5 metres unaided. Learners at Umhlali Preparatory School were taught general water safety including ocean currents and safe beach bathing, various rescue techniques used to save lives as well as the skills required to revive a near drowning patient by performing hands only CPR and vomit drill. Children at LIV Village were taught to swim in their PE classes. Local lifeguards have been giving of their free time to teach underprivileged children to surf at Thompsons Bay Tidal Pool for some time (Ballito Lifeguards Play it Forward for Mr Price Pro), but were constrained by transport issues and the sheer lack of manpower to teach the growing number of children arriving for the free Saturday lessons. Many were unable to swim but were desperate for the opportunity to learn how to surf. The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation now helps the group by transporting children in their minibus to the indoor swimming pool (previously The Locker Room Gym at The Circle), facilitating swimming lessons for the children as well as providing a meal.
To date the foundation has been funded exclusively by the Monaco Principality but has recently secured its full NGO status and welcomes any corporate fundraising initiatives.
Former Springbok Rugby Captain, Francois Pienaar and Olympic swimmer, Ryk Neethling add their celebrity support to the foundation. Princess Charlene of Monaco will join them on the 4 May 2016 at the Durban beachfront in an event showcasing the work of the foundation.
Contact: Dominique Donner Rodd for more information: