Many children do not have access to affordable swim lessons or opportunities to learn basic water safety skills, even though swimming is an important life-saving ability. Wanting to make a positive impact before summer began, Sadie decided to create a free two-day program called Swim Buddies with the help of a few fellow high school swim team members. The program was designed to help elementary-aged children, especially those with fewer resources, gain confidence in the water while learning foundational skills such as floating, basic swimming techniques, and water safety awareness. By combining a passion for swimming with community service, the project aims to make local children safer and more prepared around water during the summer months.
“I’ve been involved in swimming for years, so I realized I could use something I love to help younger kids learn skills that are both fun and life-saving.” – Sadie Buonaiuto-Cloyed
Implementing the Swim Buddies project came with several challenges, especially during the planning process. Getting the program approved through the school took time and persistence, and reaching out to elementary schools was difficult because several schools did not respond to the first emails. Sadie took the lead in communicating with schools, following up on emails, organizing the program details, and making sure everything was prepared before the event. Although most of the planning responsibilities fell on Sadie, the volunteer swim team members were supportive and stepped in on the days of the program to help teach skills and encourage the younger students.
“There were times when I felt discouraged waiting for responses, but I kept pushing forward because I knew the program could make a difference for the kids.” – Sadie Buonaiuto-Cloyed
The Swim Buddies project successfully provided elementary-aged children with free access to basic swimming and water safety instruction before the summer season. Over the course of the project, Sadie spent approximately 10 hours communicating with schools, sending follow-up emails, and coordinating the program, along with several additional hours spent planning lessons and organizing logistics. Around 15 volunteer swim team members attended the event days to help teach skills, supervise students, and create a positive learning environment for the children. Despite the challenges involved in organizing the program, the project resulted in young students gaining confidence in the water and learning important safety techniques that could help protect them in the future.
After completing the Swim Buddies project, Sadie plans to continue developing leadership skills through future community service opportunities and involvement during senior year. Building on the success of the program, Sadie hopes to organize Swim Buddies again next year and work toward making it an annual tradition within the swim team and school community. The long-term goal is for future student swimmers and leaders to continue the program each year so more children can benefit from free water safety education before summer begins. Through this experience, Sadie gained confidence in communication, organization, and leadership, which will continue to be valuable in future educational and leadership opportunities.
“I hope this project becomes something bigger than just one event and continues helping kids year after year, even after I graduate.” – Sadie Buonaiuto-Cloyed
