WINNIPEG — An elementary school in Winnipeg is raising funds to help send three Syrian refugee children to swimming lessons.
Students at Laura Secord School on Wolseley Avenue are trying to collect $300 in support of the cause.
Brittanie Haworth, an innovation and support teacher at the school, said she helped start the initiative weeks ago.
“I have a part time job as a life guard with the City of Winnipeg, and I feel personally this is important to keep them safe,” she said. ” It’s very important for them to learn about water safety.”
In August, two children who recently moved to Winnipeg from the Philippines, tragically drowned at Grand Beach.
READ MORE: 2 children drown at Grand Beach, Manitoba Monday evening
Haworth said she is working with the Winnipeg School Division to help refugees take swimming lessons, and this is just one of the examples. So far everyone at Laura Secord School has been very excited about the project, she said.
“In their country they might not know anything about water safety, said Tahndo a Grade 5 srtudent at the school. “So we should help send them to swimming lessons so they could learn.”
The students have raised $150 as of Wednesday are continuing to take donations throughout the week.