The FNB Ikeys CPR initiative in support of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation SA

We’re proud to announce that our FNB Ikey Tigers have joined forces with Varsity Cup and the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation SA to help improve water safety, teach South Africans to swim and preventing more drownings in the wider Cape Town community.

The project launched earlier this month during the Ikey Tigers bye week, where players participated in a workshop hosted by PCMFSA and the NSRI to learn how to save lives using the #CPR technique.

Ikey old boy and current Varsity Cup Manager, Xhanti Lomzi-Nesi comments: “This is not just about water safety and CPR. We hope to spend quality time with all the Varsity Cup and Varsity Shield
teams and share important life skills and lessons learnt on the sports fields. We’re aiming to make our rivers, dams and pools across South Africa safe while instilling a sense of pride and confidence in the hearts of our young people.”

This partnership, facilitated by Varsity Cup, comes about as an addition to the well-known ‘Pink Shorts’ Campaign which is ever-present at all FNB Varsity Cup fixtures, with the Pink Shorts being worn by the ‘FNB Player that Rocks’ in support the fight against cancer, women and child abuse in South Africa.

PCMFSA CEO, Ryk Neethling adds: “We are excited to partner with the FNB Varsity Cup to reach the youth of the country and teach them water safety and CPR. Our aim is to reach one million children this year and we’re confident with the help of each university we will succeed.”

About the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation South Africa:
Drowning is a cause of great concern around the world. In South Africa more than 600 children die by drowning each year, and many more are disabled. Launched on 14th December 2012, the primary objective of The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation South Africa (PCMFSA) is to save lives by putting an end to drowning.

The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation has established 149 projects in 33 countries, reaching nearly half a million people, mostly children. These programmes raise awareness about the crucial issue of water safety and teach people to swim. The Foundation also uses the transformative power of the positive values of sport by giving children access to a variety of sporting disciplines through its Sport and Education initiatives, which include providing financial support to talented athletes who lack the funds to realise their dreams.

The Foundation focuses on children and youth because they are particularly vulnerable: more than half the victims in 2015 were under the age of 25 and children under the age of five are the most affected. “Learn to Swim” and “Water Safety” programmes have been implemented around the world in order to fight against this scourge.

In South Africa, the Foundation has implemented projects in Cape Town, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, many of which reach out to underprivileged youth and teach them how to enjoy the benefits of sport in a safe and controlled manner.

For more information please go to:
https://pcmfsa.co.za