NONPROFIT
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as the Gifford Youth Achievement Center, serving more than
102 children.
HIGHEST RATE OF DROWNINGS
According to the World Health Organization, more than 40
people lose their lives to drowning per day with more than 90
percent of those in low- and middle-income families. Knowing
how to swim is an absolute necessity in a state surrounded
by water. Florida has the highest rate of drownings in the
country, second highest in the 1- to 14-year-old age group.
Fear may not be hereditary but it is passed down from
one generation to the next — especially when it comes to
swimming. This is especially true in African-American and
financially strapped households since pool fees, equipment
and swimming lessons are usually not in the budget.
“Historically, African-American students do not swim,”
said Angelia Perry, executive director of the Gifford Youth
Achievement Center, an after-school education center with a
predominantly lower- income, racially diverse student base.
“Their parents did not learn to swim, so their children tend to
not swim as well.”
Non-swimming parents reinforce that water is dangerous
and swimming is not a family activity.
“It frightened me because my girls wanted to swim and I
didn’t know how,” said Sandra Jackson, mother of two in the
GYAC Float Hopes program. “We would go walking at the
beach and I would get afraid if they would go near the water.
Now, Trinity is like a dolphin. She even saw some swimmers
on television and told me that she might like to compete in
the Olympics. This is setting the stage for her to do well in
her future.” >>
ED DRONDOSKI
Barlow oversees the children swimming laps at Gifford Aquatic Center.
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