Programming swimming

The first, 21-day, totally free of cost ‘learn to swim’ program for over 200 Parsi children in the age group five to 15 years was organized by the Zoroastrian Children’s Foundation (ZCF) during the school vacations in May 2006. Successfully completing the course and passing the test at the YMCA pool at Agripada in Bombay were 177 boys and girls who received certificates from the ZCF on May 31.

The program was sponsored by the ZCF who provided the swimmers free goggles and caps, snacks after the sessions as well as free transport by private buses from various pick-up points stretching from Andheri to Napeansea Road and Grant Road. "Additionally, ZCF paid an amount of Rs 900 per child to the YMCA for the use of the pool, coaches, etc,” says ZCF trustee Perviz Dotivala.

Persis Madon Vatcha, one of India’s most well-known swimmers and winner of the Shiv Chhatrapati, Arjuna and Gaurav Puraskar awards, addressed the inauguration function on April 13 at the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsee Charitable Institution. The ZCF now aims to carry the ‘learn to swim’ program to an all India level, especially for the rural and underprivileged Zoroastrian children, notes ZCF founder and chairperson Shihan Vispy Kapadia.