8th June 2023 – (Hong Kong)The Jockey Club Learn-to-Swim Programme for Primary Students, sponsored by The Charities Trust of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, will begin accepting applications from primary school students born in 2016 and who do not know how to swim, from 8th June to 4th July , 2023. The programme, which is completely free of charge, will run from 1st September, 2023, to 30th April, 2024, and will accommodate 2,100 students.
Since its launch in 2016, the programme has attracted over 15,000 primary school students, who have learned basic swimming skills. This year’s programme will provide 20 hours of free swimming lessons in various districts of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. The course will have a student-to-instructor ratio of up to six students per coach. Each student who is accepted into the programme will receive a set of swimming equipment, including swimwear, caps, goggles, and other essentials, free of charge, to ensure that children from underprivileged families have equal opportunities to learn to swim.
Qualified students can apply online, by post, or in person starting from June 8th. The results of the selection process will be announced on the programme’s website on 13th July, 2023, at 10am. The successful applicants will receive their swimming gear in mid-August, and they can then enrol for swimming classes via the programme’s online registration system. Students who have an attendance rate of 80% or above will receive an electronic certificate and will be eligible to participate in a special water activity organised by the Ocean Park Water Park upon successful completion of the designated swimming challenges.
This programme provides an excellent opportunity for underprivileged students to learn an essential life skill, which not only promotes physical fitness but also enhances water safety awareness. The Jockey Club Learn-to-Swim Programme for Primary Students has been a great success in the past, and it is expected that this year’s programme will also attract a large number of applicants. It is hoped that this programme will continue to inspire more organisations to contribute to the community by creating opportunities for underprivileged children to develop their potential and achieve their dreams