This story was originally published by 285 South. To view the Spanish-language version, click here.
Marcela Cruz-Baltazar arrived at the Oakhurst Pool in Decatur with her three kids on a Sunday afternoon in early August for their first-ever swimming lesson.
7-year-old Angel Orocio, followed his mom with a nervous look on his face, while Noelia, 11, stood behind them, holding the hand of her three-year-old brother, Uriel. They had been waiting for this moment for months.
“It’s important for me that my kids learn to swim, and finally we are here to have them start their lessons,” Marcela said.
In Georgia this year, at least three children under 17 have died from drowning, according to data from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. In 2023, there were 25 victims, and the year before, 19 children died. Nationwide, drowning is the leading cause of death for children aged one to four, and the second leading cause for those aged five to 14.
Swimming, said Marcela, is a “tool of survival that I need to give to [the children] for their future.”
Formal swim lessons reduce the risk of drowning by 88%, but because of costs, swimming instruction can be out of reach for families who might need them most. 79 percent of children in families with household incomes under $50,000, possess either limited or no swimming skills, with Black and Latino communities among those most impacted.
In March, the Georgia Water Safety Alliance (GAWSA), a nonprofit focused on preventing drownings, launched a scholarship program in partnership with SwemSchool and Trebol Media Group, to provide free swim lessons for low-income Latino families.
Marcela was among the 150 people who applied.
“If it wasn’t for these scholarships, I wouldn’t have been able to do it right now,” she said, standing next to her kids as they waited anxiously to start their lesson. “Especially because I have three kids and that’s hard for me to afford.”
The demand for free lessons surpassed the expectations of GAWSA. The organization considered financial need, access to transportation, and commitment to attend the one or two-month sessions when selecting participants. GAWSA hopes to raise enough funds to support more scholarships and provide free goggles, swimsuits and swim caps to families.
Marcela’s kids aren’t strangers to the water – they’re regulars at a public pool in Doraville where for $11, the whole family can enjoy some time in the water.
“They would spend all day there if I let them,” she said.
That day, Noelia and Angel’s nerves quickly turned into excitement as they changed into their swimming suits and sat poolside waiting for their instructor assignment. Three-year-old Uriel watched them, his eyes filling with tears.
“He is in love with water, just like me,” said Marcela. She promised him she would find a way to pay for swimming lessons for him as well.
The scholarships cater to kids five years old and above, all the way to adulthood, with classes conducted at SwemSchool facilities across the city.
Craig Sears, CEO and Founder of GAWSA has been working to increase access to swimming lessons and swim safety since he founded the organization in 2012. For the first time this year, he decided to partner with the SwemSchool and Trebol Media Group, so that they could reach people in communities at higher risk of drowning.
“Minorities are underrepresented in this field… And the way I look at it is why, why can’t we break down that barrier?” he said, referring to the lack of nonwhite students in swimming classes.
“A lot of the adults have just told their kids to fear the water,” said Sears.
Credit: Daniela Cintron
Credit: Daniela Cintron
Others, like Marcela, haven’t been held back by fear, as much as by a lack of resources.
Marcela grew up in the town of Juquilla in Oaxaca, Mexico. From a young age, she said, she would go to a nearby river with her family to fish for their food or cool off. “My parents had me in the water swimming at a very early age…If something happens, your life could depend on it, so you need to know what to do,” she said.
As of July, 100 Latino kids had received scholarships and enrolled in swimming lessons.
Scholarship applications are still open and classes are offered throughout the year. Sears said the organization will continue to grant scholarships until all funds have been exhausted.
For Marcela, access to swimming lessons isn’t only about safety, it’s also about joy. “Swimming gives you a sense of freedom that I also want [the kids] to experience. I love swimming.”
Noelia, Marcela’s eldest daughter, shares her mother’s passion. “I want to one day go to Mexico and swim there like my mom did.”
Credit: 285 South
Credit: 285 South
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