Nearly 71 percent of the Earth is covered by water. We want you to explore it. Whether you dream of becoming an Olympic swimmer, a deep sea navigator, or peaceful paddler, you need basic, life-saving swimming and water skills. To ensure you’re at least local waterway-ready, Outdoor Afro is partnering with swim providers across the country to provide Swimmerships (swim lesson scholarships) that cover the cost of one series of beginner swim lessons for Black children and their adult caretakers.

Outdoor Afro created Making Waves in 2019 to ensure every child and caregiver within its sphere of influence learns how to swim. Why? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black youth ages 10-14 drown in swimming pools at a rate nearly 8 times that of white peers. A public health disparity resulting from decades of segregation and exclusion from public pools and beaches. To reclaim our legacy and strengthen relationships with water, Outdoor Afro partners with U.S. swim providers to fund lessons in water safety and basic swimming techniques for kids and caregivers. Our 2024 goal is to ensure 1,200 new swimmers learn this life-saving skill while unlocking joy and love of water.