Personal message

I am definitely not a dolphin, more like an awkward penguin, so this is for sure outside my comfort zone. It is though, the second time I have tackled a Madswim, a fundraising event organized by an amazing organisation that uniquely challenges its participants whilst raising money for selected charities at each event (typically going to at least one local charity at the site of the event). Our swimming for madswimmer.com is in aid of children in need and we swim to raise funds and awareness for charities doing wonderful work in helping children.

For this challenge, proceeds from the Bazaruto Madswim 2017 event will be in support of the following three charities:

• Tilizinwe Bazaruto Community project: https://www.facebook.com/tilizinwebazaruto

Tilizinwe means ‘we are together’ in Tsonga, one of the local languages of Bazaruto Island, and this project has been established for and with the Machulane community on Bazaruto island in order to:

o   Improve the standard of living of the community members by, firstly, addressing the lack of basic facilities such as ablutions, access to adequate health care and safe drinking water

o   Provide skill building classes to the community members (currently English classes and Portuguese literacy classes) in order to equip them with the tools necessary to seek out employment

o   Encourage community members to engage in environmentally conservative practices by providing them with the knowledge to do so

o   Promote Self-sustainability, alternate employment and income opportunities

• Aluwani children development organization: www.aluwani.org

Aluwani focus on nurturing happy, healthy, secure children, and empowering rural communities to be self-sustaining. For this reason, we partnered with the rural community of Ga-Dikgale (within the Capricorn District, Polokwane Municipality) to assist them with the tools to support Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVCs).  We also work tirelessly to impart the kind of skills that can be passed down for generations thus creating self-sustaining growth within rural communities.  More critically, we actively develop communities that want to support the youth - communities who believe, just like us, that "it takes a village to raise a child."

• Geleentheid Trust: http://www.geleentheid.org.za/

The Geleentheid Trust is a charitable organisation that awards scholarships to talented young people who can't afford to attend their high school of choice. We're currently supporting ten scholars.

Myself and about 20 guys / girls will be swimming up the West coast of Bazaruto island, Mozambique. It is an estimated 34km and will take us about 12 hours... currents permitting! Health permitting, I would like to swim at least 10 – 12km.

I would appreciate any donation coming this side – and hopefully it will inspire me to keep going!

Donations