LIFEGUARD Bbhinn Crowley from Clonakilty was recently chosen to volunteer with the International Surf Lifesaving Association (ISLA) on their second mission to the Balkan peninsula.
LIFEGUARD Bébhinn Crowley from Clonakilty was recently chosen to volunteer with the International Surf Lifesaving Association (ISLA) on their second mission to the Balkan peninsula.
The mission is designed to explore, work with the locals, and exchange and teach lifesaving ideas with the Greeks and Macedonians.
Driven by the global drowning epidemic, (where two people around the world die from drowning every second) ISLA volunteers train locals in their own aquatic communities through lifeguard training programmes, lifeguard exchanges and equipment donations.
The volunteer selection is highly competitive and Bébhinn – a qualified Irish Water Safety pool and beach lifeguard – is the first Irish girl to be chosen.
ISLA run many projects around the world and this 10-day programme started in Athens where Bébhinn, along with other volunteers from around the world, first worked with the Hellas Life Guards.
The team then travelled to Macedonia where students from Greece, Albania and Macedonia joined the Lake and River Life Guard Training on Lake Mladost.
The ISLA Open Water Life Guard Course is very intense and covers lifeguard operations, aquatic injury prevention and basic open water rescues.
Bébhinn will return home to spend her summer working as a lifeguard in West Cork.
For more see www.islasurf.org
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