Change for Children 2015 got underway last May 4, with SFI kids participating in an exciting surf life saving and first aid training facilitated by father and daughter team, Elise and Greg Foot-Connolly.
Over the past week, Stairway children and scholars participated in numerous sessions facilitated by Change for Children Event winners that included first aid, water and basic life saving skills, reef biology and of course the children had a go at scuba diving through PADI’s Discover Scuba Dive experience.
Scuba for Change would like to thank the children for their active participation and their attentiveness. The children demonstrated time and time again their willingness to learn new skills and always with beautiful smiles on their faces. Furthermore, thank you to The Stairway Foundation, Monica, Lars, Amihan, Jason, Donna, Susan and the rest of the staff for their support and making this event possible.
Father and daughter team, Elise and Greg Foot-Connolly were fantastic in the way they share the first aid and life saving skills with the kids. Some of the children demonstrated they have the capacity to be great life savers/guards.
It was through Elise and Greg’s connections that Scuba for Change’s operation in Puerto Galera now possesses a defibrillator, possibly the only dive shop with a defib in Puerto Galera (thank you Terry from Bendigo Bank Sam Remo), a rescue board (thank you Zane Holems and Dolphin Surf Crafts) and rescue tubes (thank you Mentone Surf Life Savers). Watch this space as there are plans in the pipeline to further advance the skills taught.
Karl, our GM, was also presented with the challenge of teaching over 20 children their Discover Scuba Dive experience. We split the children into a number of groups, we found out that there were “natural” scuba divers within the group. Some older children have already expressed interest to pursue a professional career in the diving industry.
Thank you to SFC Ambassador Lucas Handley and his partner Julia Wheeler for working tirelessly filming the entire event, all of us are looking forward to seeing the promotional film the guys are working on! In addition, Lucas had a captivated audience when he shared his knowledge as a marine biologist with the children, and the children were also fascinated by Lucas’ recent film and his interactions with humpback whales.
Last, but certainly not least, the children are already requested another event in 2016, if you want to participate, please be on the look out on our FB page and website.