History

My swimming journey and love of water activities began just after the COVID-19 pandemic. A friend of mine, Dominique, invited me for a swim in her leisure centre, and I truly enjoyed it. I could swim, but not confidently, and I wasn’t sure if I was swimming correctly.  So I enrolled on a five-day swimming class to learn the basics and the right techniques of swimming. From then on, I started swimming and joined my local leisure centre. I now swim three to four times a week. I have also recently gained the STA Level 2 Award in Teaching Swimming (Qualification Number - 603/3014/4). In addition to swimming, I also enjoy other water activities, and with Peter, my husband, we go sailing, kayaking, surfing, scuba diving, and stand-up paddling (SUP).

One of my greatest fears is to die drowning. I have three brothers (one has passed away) and three sisters, but none of them can swim confidently. Neither of my parents knew how to swim. Our family is typical of many Filipino families. Despite thousands of islands (7,641), only a fraction of Filipinos can swim, leaving many vulnerable to drowning. About 3,000 deaths annually, and potentially higher when disasters and transport activities are included. Economic challenges (swimming classes are expensive), limited educational infrastructure (swimming is not included in schools' curricula), cultural attitudes (swimming is seen as a luxury rather than an essential life skill), and intergenerational barriers perpetuate water insecurity.

A Swim England survey 2022 found that 49% of ethnically diverse adults (including South Asian, East Asian and Black adults) cannot swim 25m unaided, in comparison to only 14% of White British adults. Children from Asian backgrounds are three to four times more likely to drown than White British children.

Swimming remains a major life skill gap for Asian and other ethnic minority communities in the UK. To help close the gap, I set up SwimAware to equip Asian, Black, and other minority communities with the skills to swim safely and confidently, and enjoy the health benefits of water activities. 

                                                    Rosario Guimba - Stewart