The turquoise waters of Crocus Bay had more than their usual shimmer on Wednesday, 20th August 2025, as cheers of parents, coaches, and proud officials carried across the beach. It was the closing ceremony of the Kids Outreach Programme, a week-long initiative that is becoming one of the highlights of Anguilla’s summer calendar.
Now in its third year, the programme was spearheaded by the All Nations United Swim Club (ANUSC), in collaboration with the Department of Education and with sponsorship from Turtle’s Nest Beach Resort. This year, a fresh wave of Grade 6 students from Orealia Kelly Primary School were the focus – and by the end of the week, forty-two youngsters had swapped fear of the water for newfound confidence, with thirty-seven of them proudly graduating at the ceremony.
Demi Proctor, event coordinator for the ANUSC, explained how the programme has expanded since its modest beginnings.
“Initially, it was a programme where we would have 18 students… three from each primary school. This time, we revamped the programme to reach more children,” Proctor told the crowd, noting that despite Hurricane Erin’s disruption, the children still showed their best on the final day.
In groups of fours and fives, the students splashed out their newfound skills: breathing underwater, floating on their backs, spreading into starfish floats, gliding confidently, and even kicking their way through front crawl and elementary back crawl strokes.
It was a proud moment for all involved and who witnessed, including Hon. Minister Cardigan Connor, who praised not just the children, but the spirit of the initiative.
“As Mr. Michel Soons [owner of Turtle’s Nest] and I were walking along the beach, he was talking about what more can we do to further assist. And that is an appeal I ask to all persons out there… It is a case of getting it started. And you can see this continues to grow and grow.” Mr. Soons and Turtle’s Nest Beach Resort had previously donated US$4,000 to support the outreach.
“I am sure most of these youngsters would want to go on to the sailing school,” Min. Connor continued, “… this will give parents confidence that when their children go to the beach, it is a safe environment.”
Stephens recalled how their partnership began when Soons offered to give back. Stephens suggested sponsoring a child or two – but Soons went further, pledging support for twenty. That initial push has blossomed into a series of programmes, including the “Seniors Can Swim”, an initiative for participants aged sixty to seventy-nine.
“We are producing athletes who are out there representing Anguilla,” Stephens added proudly, pointing to Jonathan Irizarry, fresh from the World Aquatics Championship in Singapore, and Ameiah Rey, who also recently represented Anguilla at the Goodwill Swimming Competition in Barbados. “Our aim is to see swimming be part of the school curriculum. We’ve shown through this pilot project that it’s possible.”
The ceremony ended with the spotlight right where it belonged – on the children. Beaming with pride, they took to the water one last time to show off the skills that may one day save their lives, or perhaps even propel them to international competition. Afterwards, they returned to shore to collect their certificates, complete with performance grades that will also be featured in their school report cards.
Their splashes and strokes are a living reminder of what community effort, vision, and generosity can achieve, as well as what is on the horizon for other schools across Anguilla and beyond.
Article by Janissa Fleming
