Central America, Nicaragua
Revitalizing a Coastal Fishing Village through Education and Safety Initiatives In and Around Water
In a small coastal fishing village on the Pacific Ocean, the overproduction of salt had transformed vibrant ecosystems into barren salt flats, heightening the risk of severe flooding from May to November. With fishing as a primary livelihood, the community faced a critical challenge: most fishermen possessed little to no swimming skills. Compounding this issue, over half of the village's population, predominantly under 25, lacked basic swimming abilities, leading to frequent drownings. This was exacerbated by the absence of safety signage at crucial points where the river mouth met the ocean and a general lack of awareness about the dangers of riptides.
Responding to this crisis, we spearheaded a transformative initiative. We collaborated with a local after-school program to nurture life-saving skills within the community. Our efforts saw the training of four young individuals as swimming instructors, who subsequently taught over 100 children essential swimming techniques. Beyond this, we facilitated the Red Cross Certification of 25 community members in First Aid and CPR, significantly bolstering the village's emergency response capacity.
This intervention empowered the community with vital survival skills but also fostered a culture of safety and resilience, protecting lives and securing futures against the unpredictability of their maritime environment. As of 2024, the program implemented is self-sustaining, and swimming lessons, water safety education, and CPR+First Aid are still being taught to members of the village.