MOSSEL BAY NEWS - At the tender age of 18, Shawn Thomson of Mossel Bay is already a scuba dive master and a National Sea Rescue Institute volunteer.
The NSRI is presenting a series of articles on its young volunteers during June, because it is Youth Month.
Shawn is a volunteer and a trainee class 4 coxswain at NSRI Station 15, Mossel Bay.
As a dive master and trainer at a diving and skipper's school, he already "loves training people", Shawn says.
The theme for Youth Month 2020 is Youth Power: Growing South Africa together in the Period of Covid-19.
The NSRI volunteers are the heart of the charity organisation. They offer their personal time - hundreds of hours - and are on standby day and night throughout the year to ensure water safety is maintained and people in distress are rescued.
Shawn says he is thankful for the influence his dad has had on him - even if at the time it seemed he was being dragged along to NSRI activities. Shawn is a trainee class 4 coxswain at the NSRI.
He has officially been at the NSRI station as a member for three years but unofficially he has clocked up many hours in and around the base.
This is thanks to his father, Michael Thomson.
"I learnt about the NSRI through my father, who has been at our rescue base for 10 years now," Shawn said. "My brother, Tristin Thomson, 21, and I were dragged by my father to all the different events and training and came to develop a passion for the sea and the NSRI.
"So, when my brother and I turned the correct age we joined and have never looked back."
"My day job includes training people on how to dive or about boating, while I am ever ready to respond to an emergency call-out at any time if my crew is on duty."
Training to be a class 4 coxswain means Shawn is working towards eventually becoming qualified to be in sole command of the NSRI station's surf rescue boat, "which as you can imagine comes with a few extra responsibilities".
Shawn is also part of the Mossel Bay station's junior management programme, which seeks to help the younger crew develop their leadership and managements skills.
The NSRI is a non-profit organisation staffed by volunteers and Thomson - like most volunteers at both coastal and inland rescue stations – have worked hundreds of volunteer hours. In particular, Shawn has clocked up more than 300 hours of volunteering service to the station, since formally becoming a member.
He describes volunteering at the NSRI as "amazing".
He would love to one day have a job as a training officer at the NSRI head office.
"I have developed such a passion for this organisation. I would love to help it develop further and be part of its growth and impact in helping people."
At present Shawn is studying and working towards becoming an NSRI course dive director in a "train the trainer" programme.
When asked to comment on the youth of South Africa, Shawn says: "The youth are highly underestimated and have a lot of potential. My generation, with time, will change the world and make it a better place.
"Our youth are the key to developing the NSRI into something great."
'We bring you the latest Mossel Bay, Garden Route news'
