Aquatic instruction for refugee minors and adolescents
In the heart of Wiesbaden, a significant initiative is set to empower refugee children and young people. The Wiesbaden Swimming Club 1911 e.V. and the Wiesbaden Economic Forum e.V. have joined forces to provide an essential everyday skill – swimming – to ten children without secure external funding.
The project aims to teach these children not just how to swim safely, but also to promote self-confidence, participation, and joy. This initiative is part of the Wiesbaden Economic Forum e.V.'s commitment to social engagement, which focuses on education, integration, and equal opportunities.
The Wiesbaden Swimming Club, with its qualified trainers, will carry out the project. The first courses for children between ten and 15 years old will start on Monday, August 25, at the ESWE leisure pool. A further course for children between five and eight years old will start from Saturday, August 30, at the Kleinfeldchen.
Christoph Eichler, President of Wiesbaden Swimming Club 1911 e.V., emphasises the importance of the initiative from a sporting perspective. He notes that the club has been providing a new sporting home to a group of refugee Ukrainian elite swimmers since the Ukraine war.
For the Wiesbaden Economic Forum e.V., social engagement is not a duty but a conviction. Learning to swim means not only safety but also participation. Dr. Patricia Becher, who has been handed over the project by both organisations, thanked all those involved for their exceptional commitment. She highlighted the effective, unbureaucratic, and common-goal-oriented collaboration between civil society, administration, and sports clubs in Wiesbaden.
In her welcome speech, Dr. Becher stressed the importance of the project for children and young people who often come under difficult circumstances. She expressed her gratitude to the press office of the State Capital Wiesbaden for publishing the press release.
Citizens with questions regarding the project are encouraged to contact the relevant department or office for more information. This collaborative effort underscores Wiesbaden's commitment to supporting refugee children and young people, fostering a sense of community, and promoting a culture of inclusivity and empowerment.
- This collaborative effort, led by the Wiesbaden Economic Forum e.V. and the Wiesbaden Swimming Club 1911 e.V., extends beyond teaching swimming; it also aims to foster learning, self-confidence, and integration – key aspects of the lifestyle and education-and-self-development sectors.
- The home-and-garden sector is a big part of Wiesbaden’s community engagement, but the focus of this project lies in the pools of the ESWE leisure pool and the Kleinfeldchen, where outdoor-living and sports come together to create a welcoming environment for refugee children.
- As the project progresses, it is essential to remember that swimming is not just a skill for these children; it is an empowering experience that ventures beyond the water, helping them to build a brighter future and develop a strong sense of culture and community in their new home.
