According to the WHO, over 1.3 billion people worldwide live with a disability, Accounting for more than 16% of the global population. The majority reside in developing countries, where they face extreme stigmatization, discrimination, poverty, exclusion from education and employment, and various barriers, including deep-rooted cultural, religious and superstitious beliefs that hinder their lives. People with disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds are often disproportionately affected by climate change, natural disasters, and drowning accidents, yet accurate statistical data on victims are often unavailable in many African countries.
Empowering these vulnerable individuals with water safety and survival swimming skills through the Swim in 1 Day SID Africa Charity Initiative Project can not only save lives but also enhance their quality of life. Research shows that swimming and hydrotherapy significantly benefit people with disabilities, improving their overall well-being. By improving their quality of life and giving them hope for a brighter future, SID enables them to dream big, which is one of its greatest achievements.
A SWIMMING ORGANIZATION LIKE NO OTHER IN THE WORLD
Swim in 1 Day (SID) Africa was inaugurated on May 19th, 2022, in Lagos, Nigeria, with a symbolic 1.5-hour marathon swim across Oniru Beach by its founder, Swim Guru, and a companion. The first beneficiaries were the Oniru kids, homeless children living in plastic tents near the beach, whose stories inspired our Founder to start off the initiative finally. After one year, it officially launched and began operations as an international swimming organization in line with its SID action plan on the 19th of May, 2023.
SID focuses on Africa and is dedicated to prioritizing teaching swimming to persons with disabilities and the underserved, especially in black communities disproportionately affected by the black drowning pandemic.
THE UNIQUE 3 CMC dimensions of SID
SID Africa is the only swimming organization in the world with a three-fold identity or dimension:
- Charity: Prioritizing uplifting and empowering people with disabilities and the underprivileged.
- Movement: Uniting global allies to fight for swimming inclusion and accomplishing its mission.
- Campaign: Educating the masses on water safety, survival swimming, climate and disability awareness and inclusion.
it is the first Swimming Charity in West Africa, and its name is derived from the founder’s unique ability to teach anyone who desires to learn to swim, how to Swim in 1 Day, no matter their age, disability and/or phobia/fear. One of the Unique qualities of the SID Africa is the acceleration of the swimming learning process because of the Founder’s immense education, exposure, rare talent, and overwhelming experience in swimming. He is an Endurance Swimmer, who does up to 5 hours of non-stop swimming at sea without food or water.
SID is also the first Nigerian organization building the SID Junior Paralympic Preparatory Swim Team, from age 4 till 21. It is the only one teaching survival swimming in open waters using a special confidence-building device called a Swim Buoy.
To sustain and expand our impact, SID seeks partnerships with media houses, corporations, brands, celebrities, governments, and NGOs etc. These alliances will strengthen SID as a Movement, scale our reach, and support our campaign for swimming education, water safety, inclusion, and climate resilience.
SID MOTTO:
Our main Campaign Slogan and motto is “Better Safe, than Sorry “
➤ Other Jingles:
- Giving Vision to the “Blind” (both literally and metaphorically)
- Be the Change You Desire
- Power to the Powerless
- The Future is Ours to Build—Don’t Wait
- Your Destiny Is in Your Hands
- We Can Pay the Bill Now, or Pay Dearly Later
- The World is 70% Water—Are You and Your Family Ready?
- People Start Pollution, People Can Stop It
- Uniting Cultures Through Swimming
WHAT WE DO:
CHANGING THE NARRATIVE IN AFRICA WITH REGARDS TO SWIMMING, CLIMATE CHANGE AWARENESS AND DISABILITY INCLUSION
SID is changing the narrative in Africa about swimming education, climate change, and disability inclusion awareness. The Swim in 1 Day SID Solutions is essential for community development with a vision for a new progressive and secure world by changing the narrative in Africa.
We are driving a hydrotherapy revolution in health, healing, and wellness reducing the risk of respiratory diseases and drowning, while promoting empowerment through spreading knowledge about climate preparedness/action, disability inclusion, swimming education, water safety and survival swimming. Our target is everyone from 6 months old to adults of every age at the fastest pace possible.
By highlighting the importance of swimming as a proactive tool for safeguarding African lives, we’re not only advocating for safety but also pushing for a narrative shift: recognizing individuals with special needs as vital contributors to economic growth through inclusion. This movement is part of our broader pursuit of justice and equity in African societies.
Meet Our Formidable SID Team
SID Founder/Director
Emeka Chuks-Nnadi, popularly known as Swim Guru is the Founder and Director of the Swim in 1 Day SID Africa. He is an Entrepreneur, a Business/Hospitality Consultant with 3 University degrees, an Events & Tourism Expert, a Life Coach, an Empowerment Educationist, a Climate activist and a Swimming enthusiast. As an Endurance Swimmer who does up to 5 hours of non-stop swimming at sea, and with the very exceptional knowledge he has acquired over the years from his immense passion for swimming, his inner circle of friends thought it more appropriate to call him Swim Guru than Swim Coach.
He founded SID out of a deep calling to serve as Africa’s Herald of Climate Preparedness, using swimming as the gateway. With Africa lagging in climate disaster readiness, he believes swimming education can be a powerful tool for awareness, inclusion, and resilience.
3 times Gold Medalist, World Champion Paralympic Swimmer
SID Paralympics Consultant and technical Water Therapy Support
Jesus Collado Alarcon
SID Paralympic Consultant and Technical Water Therapy SupportPopularly called Chus, Jesus Collado Alarcon specializes in Water therapy and is a Swim and Water polo Instructor/Trainer at the Olympic and Paralympic training Complex of Barcelona called Club Natacio Atletic Barceloneta located in the city of Barcelona Spain. He is a 3-time world swimming Champion Gold Paralympic medalist, and a category S9 Professional Para swimmer. His track record: Sydney 2000 Paralympics – Gold medal 100m Butterfly; Athens 2004 – Gold medal 100m Butterfly: Beijing 2008 – Gold medal 400m Freestyle and became a world record holder at stopwatch 4:17.02.
Chus became a Swim in 1 Day SID Ally in 2022 when he humbly accepted to, and without any fees trained the SID Founder Swim Guru Emeka, on how to build Paralympic teams especially for visually and intellectually impaired persons with disabilities. He has since then unofficially assumed the role of Consultant for SID and officially took on the role in 2024.
We are presently trying to raise funds to be able to invite and host him as he would love to and is looking forward to coming out to Nigeria to lend SID the helping hand it urgently needs. Our ideal Candidate for the SID Mentorship and Leadership Program.
Trustee_Secretary Board Member
Ogelue Omelogo
Secretary and Board Member Swim in 1 Day Charity InitiativeOgelue Omelogo is an Educationist and Children Nurturer, as well as a Multimedia Consultant with over 11 years of active practice in the Nigerian broadcast media as a News Caster, Copy Editor, Programmes Presenter, Producer, and News Correspondent in both Radio and Television.
She is the founder of Ogeifelue Media Nigeria Limited, and Little Crystals Cradle Abuja, a children’s care and training center which provides high-grade intentional and extended childcare to children from 3 months and coaches children up to 16 years in different areas such as creative writing, and storytelling, teen speech clinic, social-emotional learning – SEL, and counseling. She’s also a Parents’ Coach – helping parents raise Alpha Children.
Trustee Board Member
Chinasa Umeozulu, MS, PharmD
Treasurer and Board Member Swim in 1 Day Charity InitiativeA die hard Swimming enthusiast with a passion for fitness. Chinasa Umeozulu holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Estate Management, a Doctor of Pharmacy, from the prestigious University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in America, along with a Master of Science degree in Palliative Care. Lieutenant in the United States Public Health Service, her love for the motherland and her passion for improving the lives of women and Children in Africa makes her the best ally for the Swim in 1 Day SID Africa.
Administrative Assistant/Permanent Volunteer
Chidera Ekwujuru
Administrative Assistant/Permanent Volunteer, Swim in 1 Day Africa Charity InitiativeChidera Ekwujuru is a passionate advocate for empowerment and justice through volunteering, with a deep sense of commitment towards uplifting the marginalized.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management from the Abia State University in Nigeria. And brings the knowledge acquired to play while serving with SID, where he discovered a profound sense of purpose while helping individuals, including people living with disabilities, unlock their potentials through swimming and water therapy. As an administrative assistant, he brings a results-driven perspective to the SID mission, fostering hope, love, and personal growth while supporting the initiative’s goal of empowerment and spreading knowledge about swimming, climate change, and disability awareness and inclusion across Africa.
UNIQUE CHARITY
The only Charity organization in the world that is also a Movement, and a Campaign. Prioritizing people with disabilities & the less privileged.
SWIM IN 1 DAY EXPERIENCE
The only organization with the ability to consistently teach you if you desire to learn, to swim in 1 day, no matter your age, disability & fear or phobia.
WATER SAFETY & SURVIVAL
The only organization in Nigeria that teaches survival swimming in open waters with the aid of a confidence builder called a swim buoy.
HOPE FOR AFRICAN KIDS WITH DISABILITIES
The only organization in Nigeria that teaches swimming to the visually impaired (blind) & is currently building Paralympic teams with Kids from 4 years.