Changing the Culture of a Nation – How to Make Swimming the Thing to Do! 

Bill Meyer, the national director for Swim America, and Andy and Nancy Moss from Let's Swim Bahamas discussed their efforts to promote swimming and water safety in the Bahamas. They highlighted the challenge of convincing people to swim, noting that 97% of the population cannot swim. The program, which includes a two-week lesson plan for primary school students, has reached 5,600 students this year, with a goal of 7,000. They emphasized the importance of consistent funding, volunteer support, and the role of the defense force in sustaining the program. The initiative aims to increase the number of swimmers and reduce drowning rates.