Swim & Survive launched in India - News item from 10th February 2012
The Rashtriya Life Saving Society (RLSSI) is the latest RLSS branch to introduce a swimming and lifesaving programme targeted towards providing children with vital swimming, self preservation and rescue skills to survive an aquatic emergency. Two portable pools have reached Kottayam and the installation process has begun, trainers and coaches are ready to go. This programme follows on from similar programmes in Australia, Canada and Bangladesh. Does your member branch run a similar programme, if yes it would good to hear about it.
News from 3rd February 2012
RLSS as network of organisations across the Commonwealth epitomises this year’s Commonwealth theme – Connecting Culture! Through our networking and sharing of expertise and experiences we certainly are living this Commonwealth value.
The 2012 Theme offers plenty of opportunities for us to engage with, and potential benefits for members, including grants and competition.
A fitting gift for the Queen? - News item from 27th January 2012
Our Patron, HM The Queen is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee this year with celebrations taking place in June. To mark this occasion RLSS would like to send her a gift – something that truly represents RLSS… we’re seeking your thoughts and ideas as to an appropriate gift. Please share any ideas you a have with us!
Commonwealth Connects & Friends of the Commonwealth - News item from 6th January 2012
Below are the links to two Commonwealth initiatives that you can sign up to. Why not take a look and see if they are of relevance to you or your organisation.
Commonwealth Connects - Connecting 2 billion people in 54 countries all sharing a common vision, a collective commitment to promoting democracy, development and community and a profound belief in the power of sharing http://www.commonwealthconnects.org/connects/
Friends of the Commonwealth whose aim is to encourage a Commonwealth-wide network of Friends to share more, learn more and achieve more and to build support so that more people can benefit with a better quality of life. They look to encourage young people to participate in community projects.
http://www.commonwealthfriends.org/
International Support for RLSS Cameroon - News item from 13th January 2012
This week RLSS Cameroon has had the invaluable opportunity of working with International partners to develop the capacity of the branch in Cameroon. A team of trainers from the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboats Institution) and the IFSTA (International Federation of Swimming Teachers Association) have been working with RLSS Cameroon on a Swim Survival Instructors Train and Trainer course. This course will strengthen the capacity of RLSS Cameroon members to implement community-based drowning prevention initiatives in communities across Cameroon.
RLSS Commonwealth wishes to extend its thanks and appreciation to the RNLI and IFSTA for their support of our Member Branches across the Commonwealth in developing capacity to deliver drowning prevention programmes to communities across the Commonwealth.
Member Branch in Lesotho awards their first Bronze Medallions! - News item from 16th December 2011
The Lesotho Life Saving Association recently presented their first Bronze Medallions at a presentation by His Majesty, King Letsie III on 2nd December 2011 at the Royal Palace.
We would like to congratulate the 11 recipients of this award who are:
This qualification is recognised by the tourism industry and we are delighted to hear that three of the recipients have now been employed as lifeguards at the Lesotho Sun Hotel.
New Rescue Manikin
RLSS India in partnership with KK Nag Ltd have produced a rescue manikin which has ILS approval (May 2011). If you would like more information click here to view the brochure.
DID YOU KNOW – about the Commonwealth of Learning? - News item from 25th November 2011
The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is an intergovernmental organisation created by Commonwealth Heads of Government to encourage the development and sharing of open learning/distance education knowledge, resources and technologies. COL is helping developing nations improve access to quality education and training
This organisation specializes in open learning and distance education. Is this something your organisation is looking into? You may want to see what COL has to offer: http://www.col.org/about/whatis/Pages/default.aspx
1st South Asian Beach Games - News item from 18th November 2011
RLSS were delighted to hear that the 1st South Asian Beach Games were a great event and that the efforts of the Life Saving Association of Sri Lanka ensured that Life Saving was a success at the competition. The event took place from 8 to 14 October 2011 in Hambantota, Sri Lanka and were attended by all four of our Member Branches in that region.
The four lifesaving teams contesting the Games under ILS Competition Rules were from hosts Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan as follows:
Life Saving Association of Sri Lanka
Rashtriya Life Saving Society India
Pakistan Aquatic Life Saving - PALS
Centre for Injury Prevention and Research Bangladesh - CIPRB
The Team from Life Saving Association of Sri Lanka were the overall winners taking Gold in all six events. A special mention and congratulatory presentation was made to the women’s team from RLSS (I) as they were the only women competitors in life saving at the Games. A bronze medal by Ms Amreen Malik from India in the Oceanwoman event highlighted the important role that women play in lifesaving in the Region.
The competition officials included representation from five countries, the four competing countries plus Australia.
The 2nd South Asian Beach Games will beheld in the Republic of Maldives in 2013 and it is hoped that Life Saving will again be included as an official sport.
The 1st South Asian Beach Games were held under the auspices of the South Asian Olympic Council. Life Saving was included in the Games, a first for the Region through excellent support from the Sri Lankan Minister of Sport Hon. Mahindananada Aluthgamage, and National Olympic Committee Chairman President, Mr Hemasiri Fernando, Mr Elmore Perera of the Games Organising Committee and the Life Saving Association Sri Lanka
CHOGM - News item from 28th October 2011
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is currently on in Perth, Australia, and RLSS, as a Commonwealth Civil Society organisation is in attendance, advocating for drowning prevention.
CHOGM and its concurrent events bring together governments, civil society, businesses and youth representatives from across the 54 countries of the Commonwealth, to address our collective priorities, working towards a safer, stronger Commonwealth.
As a Civil Society organisation, RLSS has the opportunity to participate in the Commonwealth People’s Forum (CPF), Commonwealth Festival activities and CHOGM itself.
The Commonwealth People’s Space, part of the Commonwealth Festival, provides an opportunity to showcase the cultures of Australia and the Commonwealth through an interactive marketplace. RLSS, supported by RLSSA and RLSSWA are running a stall promoting the work of RLSS within Australia and across the Commonwealth.
The CPF brings together Civil Society (or non-government organisations) from across the Commonwealth to discuss priorities in our sector. RLSS is represented at this forum by our CEO, Francene Leaversuch, who has been actively engaging with partners across the Commonwealth on issues including education, health, indigenous populations, migration, human rights and democracy.
A part of this forum, RLSS also has the opportunity to participate in the Civil Society delegation meeting with the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers, and to observe from the media area the proceedings of CHOGM.
As part of the CPF, RLSS, with RLSSA and RLSSWA, also hosted a Learning Journey at Balga Aquatic Centre, sharing our work with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and Indigenous groups. The Journey was well attended by international delegates and local partners, and inspired much discussion on developing and funding targeted programmes for minority groups.
CHOGM and related activities conclude this Sunday and we look forward at bringing you further details on RLSS @ CHOGM over the coming month.
FINANCING DEVELOPMENT IN LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRIES - News item from 21st October 2011
In the Lifesaving & Drowning Prevention sector we are continually faced with the challenge of financing our development work, particularly in low and middle income settings.
We read with interest this week the discussions the Commonwealth Secretariat and La Francophonie held with current G20 Chair, Nicolas Sarkozy, on innovative options for financing development to support the ‘poorest, smallest and most vulnerable countries of the world’.
It is interesting to note the similarities in development challenges the lifesaving sector and governments face on the global platform. We await the outcomes of the G20 and look to be inspired by innovative strategies at this level which may inform our own practice.
THE NILE SWIMMERS PROJECT - News item from 7th October 2011
As part of a unique initiative to reduce the burden of drowning along the River Nile, The Nile Swimmers Project will soon be training Sudanese villagers living along the world's longest river in vital water safety skills. For more information click here
YOUTH - A COMMONWEALTH FOCUS - News item from 25th August 2011
August 12th marked this year’s International Youth Day and the Commonwealth has taken this opportunity to again put Youth on the top of it’s agenda. This year’s International Youth Day is ‘Change Our World’ and Noelyn Wagapu, Chair of the Pan-Commonwealth Youth Caucus, is encouraging youths to take action to create change.
The role of the Pan-Commonwealth Youth Caucus is to work in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariate on youth development issues, which are raised at country level through the national youth councils and regional youth caucuses. For more information on the role of Youth in the Commonwealth go to http://www.thecommonwealth.org/news/34580/239052/120811intrlyouthday.htm
INNOVATIVE LIFESAVING - News item from 15th July 2011
In low and middle income countries resuscitation manikins are often a luxury our Member Branches don’t have access to. Justin Bakinga, President of RLSS Cameroon, shares with us an innovative approach to resuscitation instruction. This ‘compressions instruction resource’ was sourced from discarded plastic storage containers in Justin’s community.
An inspiring example of a truly community-based approach to lifesaving and drowning prevention, utilising local resources to meet local need.
Other Innovative Lifesaving Stories
After our story last week on Innovative Lifesaving the Honorary Secretary of our RLSS Malta branch advised us that before they acquired manikins they used bath room scales on a wooden support at approximately the right height of an adult resting on his/her back to practice CPR. To make it look more realistic they covered it with a drawing of the torso! Amazing how resourceful you can be!
The Lifesaving Society (Canada) Ontario Branch launch a Swim to Survive video - News item from 1st July 2011
The Lifesaving Society (Canada) Ontario Branch recently launched its new Swim to Survive video at the Peterborough YMCA. The video features Grade 3 students from Peterborough’s Queen Mary Public School demonstrating the Society’s Swim to Survive skills.
The Swim to Survive video was the idea of police, fire and other emergency workers in the wake of the 2010 drowning of four-year-old Avery Pringle. Members of the Peterborough community were inspired to do something to help prevent future tragedies, and worked with the Lifesaving Society to develop the video. Funding was provided by Barbara Underhill and Rick Gaetz, principles in the Stephanie Gaetz Keepsafe Foundation which is the founding sponsor of the Swim to Survive program.
The video is available in 8 languages including English, French, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, and Portuguese. The full video is more than 3 minutes.
The 3 minute version is available on YouTube and accessible from the The Lifesaving Society’s website http://www.lifesavingsociety.com/default.asp?PageId=795&SectionId=5&LevelId=2. The shorter versions will soon be posted to YouTube.
Tune in to the Lifesaving Society (Canada) Webinar - News item from 17th June 2011
Lifesaving Society Canada is pleased to present a live webinar on Monday, June 20, 2011 at 12 noon Eastern Daylight Time, with Dr. Stephen Beerman, President of the International Life Saving Federation. During this 60-minute session, Dr. Beerman will share insights from the May 2011 ILS World Conference on Drowning Prevention in Vietnam. He will release new information on drowning prevention interventions and provide links to the Lifesaving Society Canada's National Drowning Report 2011. Followin Dr. Beerman's presentation, Lifesaving Society Ontario Public Eduction Director, Barbara Byers, will join to highlight the findings from Canada's new National Drowning Report.
To register for this free live webinar with Dr. Beerman, go to http://www.lifesaving.ca/main.php?lang=english&cat=publications&sub=dr. You will be given access to the live and archived recording and any additional materials released during the presentation
AN INTERVIEW ON DROWNING PREVENTION DEVELOPMENT - News item from 10th June 2011
Justin Scarr of the Royal Life Saving Society Australia talks to ABC News on Drowning Prevention Development and the approaches that have been taken in Bangladesh and Vietnam to develop local strategies for local need. This interview reinforces the need for developing localised and targeted community programmes for localised need.
Click on this link to watch the interview
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2011/06/02/3234184.htm
Nominate a fabulous volunteer for a Commonwealth Honour - News item from 3rd June 2011
Did you know that you can recognise your volunteers and partners by nominating them for RLSS Commonwealth Honours? RLSS Commonwealth has just re-launched its Commonwealth Honours & Awards and are encouraging all of our Member Branches to recognise outstanding achievements in their branches. Please click here to download this manual. If you know of an outstanding achievement by someone in your branch, be sure to let your National Branch office know! All nominations for Commonwealth Honours must be through your National Branch for approval prior to being sent to Commonwealth Headquarters.
Commonwealth Health Ministers to tackle non-communicable diseases - News item from 6th May 2011
Commonwealth Health Ministers are taking a step in the right direction by prioritising non-communicable diseases. Hopefully injury prevention will be next! For more information click here
The Commonwealth Jubilee Time Capsule: A people's history of the last 60 years - News item from 8th April 2011
This will be a unique time capsule consisting of content from all over the Commonwealth to mark Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee in 2012. There is a lot that has happened in the Commonwealth over the last 60 years - from the opening of the Sydney Opera House to England winning the World Cup and from the end of apartheid to Mother Theresa's Nobel Prize.
We want to hear what has happened in your own families, communities and countries for each of the 21,915 days that make up this 60 year period. How did these big, global events fit into your own life and that of your family? Are there more personal memories you would like to share from the past six decades? Between today and March 2012 you will be able to enter your photos, films, stories, music, and drawings about a day in the last 60 years that is meaningful to you or your country.
Learn more and take part here: www.jubileetimecapsule.org
CIVIL SOCIETY RECOGNITION - News item from 25th March 2011
The Royal Life Saving Society is very pleased to announce that we have been officially recognised as a Commonwealth Civil Society Organisation.
For The Royal Life Saving Society, Civil Society recognition means that we will have stronger connections and communications with the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Foundation and other Commonwealth organisations. We will have access to Commonwealth Civil Society events and consultation activities, enabling us to promote the issue of drowning and the work of our Society and our Members. Through the Commonwealth Foundation we will have access to the Commonwealth People’s Forum which has a recognised voice with the Commonwealth Heads of Government. Civil Society recognition also opens up further funding avenues for our organisation and our initiatives.
With the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October of this year, we are looking forward to being actively involved in the consultation and events leading up to and during 2011 CHOGM and we will be working with our Member Branches across the regions to engage in regional activities leading up to this event.
THE COMMONWEALTH ACKNOWLEDGES THE LINK BETWEEN SPORT & DEVELOPMENT - News item from 25th February 2011
Following last year’s UN paper on the links between Sport and Development, The Commonwealth has endorsed this view and set up a task group based within the Youth Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat to progress this agenda.
Read more at www.thecommonwealth.org/news/34580/233967/100211cabos.htm
Do you know which countries make up the 54 independent states of the Commonwealth?
For further information on this please click here.
COMMONWEALTH DAY
The theme for Commonwealth Day 2011 (14th March) will highlight ‘Women as Agents of Change’ The Commonwealth will celebrate women whose work has made a positive difference to the lives of others, and will emphasise the Commonwealth message that by investing in women and girls we can accelerate social, economic and political progress in our member states. For more information visit http://www.commonwealthday.org/ or http://www.thecommonwealth.org/news/34580/234568/020311annielennox.htm
Are you a Young Person in the Commonwealth, interested in global issues effecting the Commonwealth? - News item from Friday 8th July 2011
‘Your Commonwealth’ (www.yourcommonwealth.org) is the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Commonwealth Youth Programme site. The website provides a great opportunity for you to have your say on issues important to your family and community, and to get involved at an international level – check it out.
And if you’re a young person who wants to see drowning prevention as a priority issue, why not log on and make your voice heard.
Commonwealth leaders release CHOGM 2011 Communiqué - News item from 4th November 2011
Featured within the communiqué is CHOGM’s commitment for reform of the Commonwealth and their commitment to work through the recommendations of the Eminent Persons Group.
What does this mean for RLSS? A stronger and more relevant Commonwealth supports a strong RLSS.
For more information please go to http://www.thecommonwealth.org/news/34580/241632/301011communique.htm
Motlatsi Mokala
Refiloe Chopho
Daniel Nkesi
Retselisitsoe Letsie
Motlatsi Motebang
Malefetsane Kokolikane
Hlapalimane Letlaka
Theko Letsie
Rapelang Rannoko (all students or former students of Moshoeshoe II High School)
Stephen Mabula (Director, Lesotho Durham Link)
Herbert Mabula (Central Bank of Lesotho)