Marine programme member saves life

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - South Africa is posed with a huge challenge of unemployment among the youth.

Statistics show 63.4 percent of the unemployed are 35 and under.

The reason for this is believed to be mainly a lack of skills and a huge influx of people in particular sectors such as nursing, social work, engineering and psychology.

Now, the marine sector is a growing industry, but it is still not considered an option by many people due to negative, preconceived ideas.

Sea the Change is a marine employability programme aimed at providing skills through certification, to the underprivileged youth in the community.

"We believe not just in the future of our youth but in conservation and protection of our marine environment and its species, and we therefore want to create ambassadors that will be passionate about that call. We then walk in a journey to teach, provide knowledge and understanding through theory and practical experience, "says Sophu Qoma, the outreach officer for Sea the Change.

This programme officially started in March this year with swimming lessons as the students didn't know how to swim. Initial swimming lessons were challenging for them because they had to forget all their insecurities and overcome the fear they had of the ocean.

"They did so well with swimming lessons that within two months of learning to swim, they started with their life guard training and will soon be qualifying."

To the rescue
Amahle Fanelo, a 17-year-old junior life guard from the Sea the Change programme made his first rescue on 12 October.

The senior life guard, Akhona Mabuto, asked him to fetch their training buoy - that was deep in the ocean - with the lifesaving board. On his way there, he stopped to tell a man that the currents were strong and would pull him deeper and he might end up getting hurt on the rocks.

"But the man didn't listen to me, so I continued with my task. On the way back, I saw he was in distress, so I swam up to him."

The swimmer panicked and flipped the board, throwing Amahle into the swells as well. So he had to calm the man, put the board straight and help him back on to the board.

After all that the senior life guard was there to assist him and take the man back to shore.

Besides learning lifesaving, Amahle Fanelo has developed a passion for marine life.