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Transcript/Script NYC NGO SWIM LESSONS TVR
HEADLINE: New York City non-profit provides free swimming lessons to underserved
communities
TEASER: New York youths find community and strength in swimming
PUBLISHED AT: 07/24/2024 at 9:25 pm
BYLINE: June Hsu and Rendy Wicaksana
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: New York City
VIDEOGRAPHER:
PRODUCER:
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Tsikhanenka
SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, Baragona
VIDEO SOURCES: VOA
PLATFORMS: WEB__TV_X__RADIO_
TRT: 2:55
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE: TVR
EDITORS NOTE: ))
((INTRO))
[[A nonprofit organization in Brooklyn, New York, is providing free swimming lessons
and water safety training to youth from underserved communities, hoping to prevent
drownings and give more kids a chance to simply enjoy a day at the pool. June Hsu and
Rendy Wicaksana report.]]((NARRATOR))
This is Keyara Knight’s second year with this swimming program in Brooklyn, New York. She is determined to conquer any fears of the water after a terrifying childhood experience.
((Keyara Knight, Rising Tide Effect Participant))
“I was close to a drowning experience, so my father felt like it was necessary in order for us to be put into swimming lessons. But you know swimming lessons cost money, and this is free.”
((NARRATOR))
Knight, a 21-year-old native New Yorker, participates in a six-week intensive program hosted by “Rising Tide Effect,” a non-profit offering free swimming lessons to underserved communities in New York City.
((NARRATOR))
((VIDEO: animated bar chart from CDC Table 1: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7320e1.htm?s_cid=mm7320e1_w#T1_down ))
((Use the “Total” figures at the bottom of the table:
2019: 4067
2020: 4589
2021: 4677
2022: 4509))
About 500 more people died from drowning each year in 2020 through 2022 compared with 2019, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
(( For radio: Kate Krause is the founder of Rising Tide Effect. ))
((Kate Krause, Rising Tide Effect Founder))
“As a New Yorker, it breaks my heart. It makes me sick that people are out there dying in rip currents.”
((NARRATOR))
Kate’s students like that her program prepares them not only for swimming in the pool but also for rip currents and other hazards of the real ocean experience.
(( For radio: Jesika Romain is one of those learning how to swim. ))
((Jesika Romain, Rising Tide Effect Participant))
“Tuesdays and Wednesdays, we swim here in the pool, and Thursdays we go to the beach to learn how to surf and stuff and learn how to be immune to the ocean water instead of the pool water, because the pool and the ocean are two different things.”
((NARRATOR))
The U.N. World Health Organization says on average worldwide, 26 people die by drowning every hour.
(( For radio: David Meddings is with the World Health Organization. ))
((David Meddings, World Health Organization)) ((Mandatory: Zoom)) ((9:25-9:45))
“I do think that one of the reasons for, let's say, a relative lack of engagement with drowning to date is simply because it's not really widespread knowledge that drowning is, A, as big of a problem as it is, and B, is as easily preventable as it is.”
((NARRATOR))
For Keyara Knight, her experience in Rising Tide Effect is not just about improving her swimming, but also about learning important life skills.
((Keyara Knight, Rising Tide Effect Participant))
“Being here, you’re open to a lot of opportunities. We’re getting our CPR and our first aid certification. It is not a lot of us (who) are able to get that nowadays, without having to pay any money.”
((NARRATOR))
The CDC reports drowning as the leading cause of death among children ages 1 through 4. Nearly 80 percent of children in low-income households have little to no swimming ability, according to the USA Swimming Foundation.
(( For radio: Kate Krause says that has to change. ))
((Kate Krause, Rising Tide Effect Founder))
“I think a lot of the youth, especially the ones that are in our groups who are coming from really intense gun-violent neighborhoods, need to have access to this piece. And if they can just experience the joy in the pool the way I do, where my colleagues do, then maybe they're going to want to pursue a career related to the water.”
((NARRATOR))
And that is exactly what Jesika plans to do.
((Jesika Romain, Rising Tide Effect Participant))
“…now I'm really thinking about being a lifeguard next summer.”
((NARRATOR))
And Keyara Knight says in the future, she would like to teach kids to swim.
((June Hsu and Rendy Wicaksana, VOA News, New York City))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJuly 24, 2024 22:03 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
