Reaching 1,044 students across 7 coastal villages in Gianyar Regency

This is the first time we’ve ever done something like this, and we couldn’t be prouder of how it turned out. At Swimdo, we believe that the first step to preventing drowning is understanding what children already know—and what they still need to learn—about water safety. While we teach thousands of kids each year, this survey helps us see the bigger picture: how water safety is understood in communities beyond our classrooms.

Who Took Part?

We visited public schools in the coastal villages of Siyut, Lebih, Medahan, Keramas, Saba, Sukawati, and Ketewel—areas where kids grow up near the sea and rivers. The survey focused on elementary school students aged 9–13, most of whom had never joined a Swimdo class before. We asked them about their swimming ability, where they learned to swim (if at all), how often they swim, and how they behave around water.

We also explored what they know about staying safe near rivers, beaches, and pools—and whether they understand how to act during emergencies.

What We’ve Learned So Far

We’re still analyzing the full results, but here’s what we can share now:

• Many children are regularly in or around water, whether swimming, fishing, or taking part in local traditions like melukat, a water purification ritual.
• Swimming skills vary a lot—some kids swim often, while others have little or no experience.
• Knowledge of basic water safety isn’t as strong as we hoped, especially when it comes to recognizing danger or knowing how to respond in risky situations.

Why Gianyar?

Gianyar is one of Bali’s eight regencies, home to over 500,000 people, with children making up more than 20% of the population. The region is surrounded by rivers and ocean, and while water is a big part of daily life, not all children have access to swimming lessons or safety education.

In fact, only a few schools offer swimming as part of their curriculum—and most programs are limited to private schools or extracurriculars that many families can’t afford.

This is where Swimdo comes in.

What’s Next?

This survey helps us see where help is needed most—and we’re already planning how to use this information to grow our programs, train more instructors, and advocate for water safety education for all children, no matter where they live.

It’s just the beginning, but we’re hopeful. Because every child deserves to feel safe in the water—and every community deserves the tools to protect their future.

Thank you, as always, for supporting this mission. We can’t wait to share more insights with you soon!