The 1st Conference of Seaguards, organised by the non-profit organization Safe Water Sports was held on October 5th 2019, at the Neraida Floating Museum, which is berthed at Flisvos Marina. The Deputy Minister of Education Mrs. Sofia Zacharaki attended the event which was supported by John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation.
During the Conference, one school from each region of Greece that excelled in the e-learing educational program of Safe Water Sports during the school year 2018-2019, was awarded a Water Safety Educational Bag "training suitcase", which includes individual and group interactive and experiential educational activities that aim to inform and familiarise students with the basic guidelines regarding their safety at sea, water, beach and water sports. Furthermore, the students who attended the conference, participated in the guided tour and education program that was designed and implemented by the qualified museum pedagogues of the Neraida Floating Museum.
The 13 primary schools are:
- Region of Attica: 1st Primary School of Agios Stefanos
- Region of North Aegean: 3rd Primary School of Myrina Lemnos
- Region of Western Greece: 12th Primary School of Patras
- Region of Western Madeconia: Primary School of Asvestopetra & Primary School of Olympiada, Kozani
- Region of Epirus: Primary School of Eleousa, Arta
- Region of Ionian Islands: Primary School of Spartila, Corfu
- Region of Crete: Primary School of Gournes
- Region of Central Greece: 8th Primary School of Chalkida
- Region of Central Macedonia: Primary School of Neon Kerdylion, Serres
- Region of Thessaly: Primary School of Larissa
- Region of Peloponnese: Primary School of Sperchogia, Messini
- Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace: 1st Primary School of Komotini
- Region of South Aegean: 8th Primary School of Rhodes
The ultimate goal of the Conference is the Safe Water Sports Organization’s educational program to “travel’’ across all primary schools of Greece and reach as many students as possible, as the Water Safety Educational Bag shall be available to other primary schools via borrowing, following respective corresponce with the aforementioned awarded primary schools.
In our country, which extends to 13,676 kilometers of shoreline, it is estimated that more than 300 sea-based incidents of deaths occur each year, many of which are due to the lack of knowledge of basic guidelines on swimming and boat traffic behaviour.
More than 40,000 students per year are educated via the Safe Water Sports' educational program.
