Continuing Our Mission: A Return to Rote Island

Last month, in April 2024, the Swimdo team returned to Rote Island in East Nusa Tenggara for the third time. Our journey began with the generous support of the Massie family, whose collaboration helped us reach children in the coastal villages of Nembrala and Bo’a during our very first trip.

On our second visit, we focused on training local volunteers who had previously assisted our team, preparing them to become certified instructors in water safety and survival swimming.

This third trip marked an exciting milestone: we returned not only to continue teaching but also to support and supervise our newly trained local instructors as they independently led full program cycles from student recruitment and class delivery to skill assessments.

A Community that Cares

The local teaching team came from a beautiful mix of backgrounds: homemakers, schoolteachers, hotel owners, surfers, and even visiting tourists who felt inspired to contribute. The broader community also played a key role, helping us secure necessary permits, build trust, and connect with local families.

It was heartening to see just how deeply committed the people of Rote are to ensuring the safety and future of their children. Their generosity, openness, and willingness to help continue to motivate our work.

Testing Skills, Building Confidence

On our final day, we conducted a simple skills assessment with our students. We were proud to see that 98% of them successfully performed a 30-second float and swam 20 meters using the survival backstroke technique.

To celebrate, we shared a joyful dinner with the entire teaching team, students, and community members—a moment of connection and shared purpose that extended late into the evening.

A Reminder of Inequality—And Why Our Work Matters

As we drove some of the children home through the island’s interior, we were reminded of the stark contrast that exists within our country. Many villages in Rote still lack access to electricity, and the road home felt like stepping back in time as if we had traveled 30 years into the past.

Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelagic nation, home to more than 280 million people across 18,000+ islands. In many of these remote areas, access to clean water, electricity, and basic infrastructure remains limited. Understandably, water safety education is often not seen as a priority in these regions, and this is precisely why we do what we do.

At Swimdo, we believe every child deserves the knowledge and skills to stay safe around water, regardless of where they live or what resources they have access to. That’s why our program is offered entirely free of charge to children and families.

With Gratitude and Hope

As we reflect on this recent trip to Rote, we are filled with gratitude for our partners, our volunteers, our growing team of local instructors, and the communities who welcome us with open arms.

We look ahead with hope, knowing that together, we can build a safer future for children across Indonesia, one village, one lesson, one child at a time.