13/02/2026
WATER SAFETY AND LEARN TO SWIM
As the world has moved on and we all have learned, water safety is the bigger picture or bigger problem, if I could use those words.
Now that SWIM4LIFE is based in the Drakensberg we have been more exposed to water safety problems not just in the Drakensberg, this does count for the whole country.
The vision is to have a water safe area.
We have, rivers, dams, ponds, farm dams and canals, where kids, even adults, having a swim or cool down sometimes in a bath in the backyard.
This goal we have is looking after, not only the youth even the few older people in the community that didn't have the chance or opportunity to learn how to swim or water safety.
Our goal:
We would like to give a helping hand to Hope House orphanage in Harrismith. This is a small step but we believe it is in the correct direction. The orphanage has 40 kids at the moment, and the Harrismith swim school based 'sgym .b.deklerk and .deklerk.73 put up their hands to volunteer to teach the kids. The children were dealt a bad hand or put in a situation that they didn't ask to be in. They deserve a childhood as we all have or had with equal opportunities. We ask when you come to Sterkfontein 1500m that you will please support us in the new venture. Any help would be appreciated, anything from school supplies, clothes that your kids don't wear anymore, other sporting equipment would be great, any financial donations could be done at registration. The funds will help with swimming gear, transport or an ice-cream for the kids when and where we can help.
We ask to support the vendors at the event aswell, they will all be supporting their own charities animalshelter
Harrismith and Drakensberg, We hope to build partnerships with others as a start to build on a bigger water safety program around the Drakensberg area.
Who knows maybe the Drakensberg could produce a champion one day.
Hopehouse orphanage (+27) 058 622 1722