Learning and fun at beach safety program

Summer might have come to an end but you can never be too careful when strolling on the beach. Keeping this in mind, the Rootvij Kadakia Foundation partnered with Victoria University and conducted a Beach Safety program for international students in Willamstown Beach recently. This is the second program held by the foundation in 2010; the first was held in January at the Box Hill Institute Tafe in Melbourne. The program was held in the Willamstown Surf Life Saving Club and was the biggest till date. More than two hundred international students took part in this event, which was organised as a part of the orientation program. Costs were shared by Rootvij Kadakia Foundation and Victoria University.

The objective of the program was to educate international students about water safety. Students from all over the world took part, from countries like Iran, Mexico, Indonesia, Germany, China, Cambodia, Taiwan, Japan, among others. The weather stayed sunny so all went as planned. The program began with an introductory speech by David Holland, manager of Life Saving Victoria (LSV) Team, who assured students that they were in safe hands. Tejas Patel from the RKF said, “The whole idea of the program is to educate you about water safety with loads of fun. It is important for us that everyone is safe in the water.”

The program continued from the club to the beach where all the action was to be. Different activities, supervised and guided by the LSV staff, were organised for those who didn’t mind getting wet and others who preferred to stay dry. The wet activities included Rescue Boards, Boggie Boards, Nipper Boards and PFD (which was mainly a life jacket activity). Most of the students participated in the water- based activity, as the weather was warm. Other activities conducted were life saving exercises for the benefit of the students. Sandeep Hegde, a Masters student from India said,” I enjoyed everything. My favourite was the Boogie Rides, now I need to get a surf board for myself. I had no idea it would be so much fun.”

Activities on land included Rope Rescue, Beach Flags and Life Jacket activity. Students ran around the beach to compete for the flags. Said Diana Torres from Mexico, “I had such a fun experience. It was so good hanging out with my new friends. I learnt so much about water safety. Apart from educating us, the experience has made the bonds between us friends stronger. I am glad I took part.” At the end of the program, students were gifted water safety packs by RKD. Even at the end of the day, the students seemed happy and enthusiastic. Yanti from Indonesia said,” I learnt so many things which I didn’t know about. The workshop was so exciting. It was a memorable day.”

We hope to see many more beach programs by the Foundation in coming months.