On a scorching afternoon in Lagos, Nigeria's economic center, around 20 children dressed in shorts and vests gather at a swimming pool. A coach holds the hand of a blind boy, demonstrating swimming techniques and guiding him through the water while the other children observe. This session is part of the Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted, where Emeka Chuks Nnadi, the swimming coach, utilizes his nonprofit organization, Swim in 1 Day (SID), to teach swimming to children with disabilities.
In a country where hundreds of people drown annually—often due to boating accidents and occasionally from domestic incidents—this initiative has successfully taught at least 400 individuals with disabilities how to swim, contributing to their personal growth as well. “It has helped me a lot, especially in school,” said 14-year-old Fikayo Adodo, a blind student and one of Nnadi's trainees. “I now feel very confident speaking in front of a crowd. My mind feels sharper and more capable.”
The World Health Organization identifies drowning as one of the top causes of unintentional injury-related deaths worldwide, with at least 300,000 fatalities each year. Young children are particularly vulnerable to this risk.
