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 Safe Water Sports e-learning educational program for the 2018-2019 school year was awarded a "training suitcase" including individual and group interactive and experiential educational activities designed to inform and familiarize students with the basic safety guidelines for the sea, water, beach, and water sports. Furthermore, the students who attended the event participated in a guided tour and the educational programme “Travelling with Neraida: A Game on Board” that is implemented by qualified museum pedagogues at the Neraida Floating Museum.
The 13 participating 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 for this educational-training programme to “travel” to as many children as possible, since the schools of each area will be able to borrow the training suitcase from the school that excelled.
In Greece, a country with 13,676 kilometers of coastline, there are an average of 300 sea-related fatalities each year, many of which are due to a lack of knowledge of basic swimming rules and boating traffic behavior.
The Safe Water Sports educational programme has managed to inform-train more than 40,000 students to date.
