From non-swimmer to teacher: meet Pablo the fisherman
Peru
It sounds like a contradiction: spending your life working in the ocean, yet being unable to swim. For Pablo, a young fisherman, this was simply a reality of daily life.Pablo made his living line and spear fishing from the shore, always careful never to go out of his depth. The sea was both his livelihood and a source of constant, quiet anxiety."When I was fishing, it would worry me that I couldn’t swim, but we had nobody to teach us," Pablo reflects. "We had a beautiful sea, but we were all non-swimmers."In many coastal communities around the world, without swimming lessons, the ocean remains a hazard rather than a resource to be enjoyed safely.Pablo broke that cycle early. He didn’t just stop at learning how to swim himself; he chose to become a certified SwimTayka instructor. Today, as a young leader in his village, he is instrumental in passing that life-saving knowledge down to the next generation.
Paying it forward – the gift of swimming
Teaching local children presents its own unique challenges, especially when the water is an entirely unfamiliar environment."They are full of questions, and have so much to ask, and I love to teach them and to help the community," Pablo says. "They are keen to learn, but it is very new to them, so on the first day or two, they just stand in the pool."Initial hesitation is completely normal. For many of these young students, the temperature of the water can be just as daunting as the depth."Some of them find it a bit cold and don’t want to put their heads in the water," Pablo explains. "But after a bit, they all start swimming, and they are so excited when they learn."Pablo’s journey epitomises SwimTayka’s mission. By empowering local young adults to become instructors, we aren't just sending temporary aid - we are creating sustainable, long-term change within the community.A beach that was once filled with worried non-swimmers is now a place where children can learn, thrive, and explore with confidence, guided by a young role model who truly understands their journey.Help us support instructors like Pablo. You can make a donation here.
