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HELP projectEnvironmentEducation

HELP
Swim

Children who grow up beside the Pacific deserve to be safe in the water.

Swimming pools near Huanchaco, every Peruvian summer

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A swimming instructor supporting a child in the pool
A volunteer instructor in the pool with a group of children

The need

Growing up by the sea, without learning to swim

WhereSwimming pools near Huanchaco, every Peruvian summer

Huanchaco's children grow up next to the Pacific, yet many never get the chance to learn to swim. Drowning is a real and preventable risk for young people living on the coast.

Water is also under pressure from pollution. So HELP Swim does two things at once: it teaches children to be safe in the water, and it teaches them to protect it.

Our approach

What we do

  • Learn to swim

    Learn-to-swim and drowning-prevention lessons for children aged 3 to 16, grouped by age and ability.

  • Water safety

    Teaching and training in every aspect of water safety, following the SwimTayka curriculum and emergency action plan.

  • Water stewardship

    Classes on climate change and preventing pollution, especially of rivers, lakes and the sea.

  • Recycled final project

    Every child finishes by presenting a creation of their own imagination, made from reused and recycled materials.

Water safety

Safe in the water, and safe for the water

HELP Swim runs every Peruvian summer, combining drowning prevention with environmental education so children leave both confident swimmers and water guardians.

Save lives

Advancing health and saving lives through swimming lessons and training in all aspects of water safety.

Protect water

Advancing education about clean water through water stewardship lessons that protect the environment.

In every lesson

1:5–8

Every lesson keeps a ratio of one instructor to five to eight swimmers, so no child is ever out of reach.

How a summer of lessons works

  1. 1

    Assess

    Instructors assess every child's swimming ability.

  2. 2

    Group

    Children are grouped by age and ability.

  3. 3

    Swim

    Learn-to-swim and drowning-prevention lessons in the pool.

  4. 4

    Steward

    Water stewardship classes and a recycled final project.

Working in partnership

In pictures

HELP Swim in action

  • A volunteer instructor in the pool with a group of children
    Small groups, grouped by ability
  • A swimming instructor supporting a child in the pool
  • An instructor supporting a young girl as she practises floating
  • Children kicking and splashing at the side of the pool
    Kicking practice
  • Instructors and children in swimming caps smiling together in the pool
  • Two boys making a project out of recycled cardboard
    Final projects from recycled materials

HELP Swim at a glance

Ages of the children we teach to swim
3–16
Instructor to swimmer ratio in every lesson
1:5–8
Supported by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation
2025

Volunteer on this project

Join the HELP Swim team

Qualified swim instructors and support staff join us for the Peruvian summer, typically for two to three months at 15 to 20 hours a week. First aid or CPR certification is required.

  • Swim Instructor or Support Staff
See roles on this project

Fund this project

£50a month

A summer of swimming

Funds one child through our entire summer swimming programme, including transport, venue and certified instructors.

Transport, pool hire and certified instructors all add up. Your gift puts children in the water with people qualified to keep them safe.

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