German government funds swimming lessons to improve child safety

The German government, the Deutscher Schwimmverband, and the Deutsche Lebensrettungsgesellschaft launched a 20 million Euro program to teach children how to swim.

The initiative aims to address a gap where only 40 percent of primary school students in Germany can swim confidently. The funding will be distributed over four years to help swimming associations and aid organizations provide more lessons.

The money can cover costs like bus trips to swimming pools for school classes or the hiring of professional swimming instructors to support volunteer teachers. The program does not include funding for the construction or maintenance of swimming pools. Officials state that learning to swim is vital for safety and helps children gain confidence to participate in school trips and holiday activities.

The Deutsche Lebensrettungsgesellschaft defines a child as a confident swimmer if they can swim independently for 15 minutes over deep water.