Estonian Students Learn Life-Saving Water Safety Skills through WSM Project
How to stay safe near water? What to do if someone is drowning? And how not to become a victim yourself? These are just a few of the vital skills that 10th-grade students from Tallinna Mustjõe Gümnaasium now master, thanks to intensive training provided as part of the Water Safety Methodology (WSM) project.
Over the course of three days in May, students gained both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience:
- May 19–20: During four hours of classroom learning, students explored the risks associated with different types of water bodies, the use of life jackets, cold-water survival strategies, and real-life incident analysis. They also learned how to provide help safely without endangering themselves.
- May 21: In a two-hour practical session at Pirita Beach, participants practiced jumping safely into water, putting on life jackets, throwing a lifebuoy accurately, and conserving body heat in cold water.
These skills are not just theoretical — they can make a real difference, whether at home or abroad.
The training was conducted as part of the pilot testing of the water safety programme developed within the project. We received valuable feedback from both students and teachers, which will help us improve the content and delivery of the methodology.
Representatives from both Estonian and Latvian project partners participated in organisation and delivery of the sessions on site, along with our colleagues from the NGO IZUM, who acted as non-formal education experts. Their evaluation of the programme and methodology was highly insightful and included concrete suggestions for further improvement.
We are proud to see motivated and curious young people eager to learn and ready to act. Their engagement is a strong sign that we are heading in the right direction. More to come — stay tuned!
