We’re working to create an Indonesia where every child has access to free, quality, aquatic education. We create local employment opportunities within communities, spread awareness of drowning risks, and offer free survival swimming and water safety courses to children and the members of their community. Our programs serve to help everyone foster a safer and more positive relationship with the water around them.
The Problem
“Drowning is a serious and neglected public health threat claiming the lives of more than 372,000 people a year worldwide, most of them children. More than 90% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. This death toll is almost two thirds that of malnutrition and well over half that of malaria – but unlike these public health challenges, there are no broad prevention efforts that target drowning.”
– World Health Organization
Our Story
In April of 2013, California native Seamus Pettigrew was volunteering as an English teacher in a small village in East Bali. An avid surfer, Seamus would frequently visit the beach with his students so he was shocked to learn that the majority of them had never learned to swim.
Upon returning home to the US, he was motivated to take action that would help the children of Indonesia learn to swim. After discussing this idea with friends Neal From and Andrew Latimer, the team set out to found Swimdo, an international non-profit organization that would serve the children of Indonesia.
Our mission: To protect and enrich the lives of children through aquatic education.
To date, Swimdo has taught more that 7,000 children survival swimming and water safety. The organization employs a full team of local staff and is partnered with drowning prevention organizations around the world to help end childhood drowning.