The Writing Stick Project
Turning Points
Turning points was established by Lydia Goldswain to raise awareness and in so doing, raise funds to supply teaching materials for
pre-school children in underprivileged areas.
About the families in these areas
The families in rural and farming areas are from a very poor socio-economic environment. The parents are often seasonal farm labourers and poverty and unemployment are rife. The children live in very disadvantaged circumstances.
The families, if they can, contribute R10.00 per month towards school-fees.
Parents are asked to supply stationery at the beginning of the year, but many find it difficult due to their circumstances. All the ills of society like AIDS, alcohol abuse, mental and physical abuse are visited on these children.
To our Donors
This is just a concise letter of appreciation to all who have made it possible for Lydia Goldswain to be able to donate the educational equipment to our school.
The learners and educators are truly grateful and wish her all the success with her efforts to collect things to provide our school and other schools.
Thank you very much.
Principal and staff.
Weltevrede NGK Primary School
Information on the pre-school circumstances.
The governing bodies of the pre-schools receive subsidies of R9 per child per school day. Most of this money is spent on the teacher's salaries - an average of R 2800 per month. There are between 20-30 children in each class. This means that from a class of 30 children - R3500.00pm is received from the government. The balance of R1000 goes towards the schools’ running costs and very little is left to buy sufficient resources for teaching. Mostly these classes do not have adequate supplies of teaching materials such as paper, crayons, paints etc.
If the children do not receive pre-school education, then they are two years behind intellectually and are not ready for formal education. The more money which is invested in pre-school education means fewer interventions later on like being able to identify learning barriers and behavioral problems.
The primary schools to which these pre-schools are attached use money from their budgets for things like toilet paper , telephones, lights and water as there is no "Norms and Standards" funding for the pre-school classes. This places an additional strain on the primary schools.
About Lydia
INTRODUCTION
My name is Lydia Goldswain and my dream is to swim the English Channel in August 2009 and in turn to become the first disabled South African to swim the Channel.
I am 46 years old and have a son of 23 years of age. I have a condition called spastic dyaplegia which hampers my ability to walk. I swim using only my arms.
I use my swimming as a way to raise funds for the Writing Stick Project.
SMALL BEGINNINGS
In August 2002, I decided to use swimming as a means to get fit. At the start of the 3-month training program, I could swim 600m. About two weeks into program, I set my heart on swimming 3000m on the last day of the 3 month challenge and in doing so fell in love with swimming long distances. I achieved this in our local gym pool, all on my own, with no swimming coach.
The swimming bug had bitten deep and in October 2003, out of the blue, I decided to attempt the Robben Island swim.
SWIMMING CV
In May 2004, I swam from Robben Island to Blouberg, a distance of 7 kilometres. I used this swim to raise funds to buy teaching materials for Grade R (pre-school) learners in the rural areas.
An amount of R16000 was raised which provided funds to purchase paper, crayons, pencils crayons, kokis, paints, dyes, scissors, paint brushes and three types of glue for 100 children in 4 different schools.
In July 2005, I swam from Robben Island to Three Anchor Bay a distance of 10 kilometres. I did not do any fundraising on this swim.
In March 2006 I swam double Robben Island i.e. Blouberg/Robben Island/Blouberg, a distance of about 15 kilometers in preparation for the Channel. I became the first woman and first disabled person to do so.
In July 2006, I attempted the English Channel and swam for 7 hours before aborting due to back ache.
In May 2007, I swam from Blouberg around Robben Island to the Old Jetty, a swim of 17 kilometres
In July 2007, attempted the English Channel once again, swimming for 21 hours and 2 minutes, aborting 5 miles from France due to an injured wrist.
In February 2008, I attempted a Triple Robben Island, unfortunately strong winds and rough conditions, aborted the third leg of the swim, but I did complete another double crossing. I will be attempting my Triple Robben Island again in April as the strong summer winds will settle down in autumn.
A SHORT BACKGROUND ON SWIMMING THE CHANNEL
The sport of Channel Swimming traces its origins to the latter part of the 19th Century when Captain Matthew Webb made the first observed and unassisted swim across the Strait of Dover swimming from England to France in 21 hours and 45 minutes.
To swim the Channel, no swimmer is allowed use or be assisted by an artificial aid of any kind, but is permitted to grease the body before a swim, (it is not true that grease keeps one warm, but it does help with chaffing) use goggles, wear one cap and one costume.
The Channel is considered the “Mount Everest” of swimming. The distance is approximately 35 kilometres. The swim starts on the English coast at Dover and finishes on the French coast at Calais. Or as close as the tides will take you.
Since 1930, about 30 South Africans have swum the English Channel to date.
OUTLINE FOR MY CROSSING
The date for the swim is set for between 28th July and 6th August 2009. The date range is the “window” to allow for whims of the weather. I am training to swim the Channel in a time of 16 hours but the outcome depends on the Channel’s conditions on the day.
The temperature of the water can vary between 14 and 18 degrees. There are other hazards to contend with as well like jellyfish, shipping, currents and water pollution.
I will be accompanied by a large boat skippered by a professional pilot whose job it is to plot the course to make the crossing safely through international shipping lanes. The pilot is my lifeline. All I have to do is listen to his instructions and swim!
On board the boat is also the official who will ratify the swim.
My support crew will be responsible for looking after my feeding requirements and will be allowed to swim with me for an hour should I get lonely during the swim. And, of course, to keep me motivated and not allow me to get back in the boat until I reach France!
News
Lydia Goldswain's English Channel Swim
2006-09-11
Lydia is currently swimming the English Channel.
You can receive a live news feed on Lydia's swim from the Dulce Blog.
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