Some 200 children with disabilities will now have the opportunity to learn swimming
Last Saturday the Edward Mohamed Swimming Pool was commissioned. The pool is situated at the Regional Special Education Needs and Disability Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, in the Cyril Potter College of Education compound, at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara.
The pool was made possible through a generous donation from Trinidadian businessman and philanthropist, Teddy Mohamed, who is the owner of Mohamed Bookstores Associates Ltd. in Trinidad.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, highlighted the importance of the initiative which she said is essential for the holistic development of children with disabilities.
The minister noted that even if the children do not become proficient swimmers, engaging in extracurricular activities can significantly boost their confidence and calm them. This initiative is expected to be replicated in Regions Three, Five, and Ten.
The minister alluded to the need for trained personnel such as lifeguards, to ensure the safety of the children. She announced government is presently looking at building a pool for the Allied arts, where they can train lifeguards and other necessary personnel.
Mohamed explained what inspired him to donate the money to build the pool is borne out of his own experience. He said his child was born with a damaged retina and the lack of physical facilities in Trinidad meant that he had to personally teach his son how to swim. That experience, he said, has inspired him to assist children with disabilities in Guyana
