The government has hailed the Strategic alternative learning techniques (Salt)Foundation for construction of a modern swimming pool in Bagamoyo, Coast Region.
National Sports Council of Tanzania (NSCT)senior Sports Officer Charles Maguzu in an interview hailed the foundation for constructing the modern pool ,describing it as a positive development in swimming.
The Swimming pool will be used for aqua therapy and other activities ,among them hosting of local and international events.
He said for sports to grow in the country there is a need for collective efforts among all stakeholders and he appealed to other stakeholders to emulate SALT gesture.
"We are happy with the swimming pool construction which is taking place in Bagamoyo. This is a good development for swimming in the country," he said .
Maguzu also assured SALT Foundation of continued government support towards construction of the pool and other activities which the foundation conducts.
"The government is with you(SALT Foundation)whenever you need any government assistance. Please don't hesitate to come to our office. We will help you , the government is pleased with what you are doing in the sports sector especially in the area of disabled athletes," he said.
In the previous interview the Foundation director Rebeca Lebi said construction of the swimming pool started mid this year and they expect to be completed next year and the foundation will use more than 80m/- to complete its construction.
Lebi called upon people of goodwill , the corporate world , sports lovers and stakeholders to support her foundation so that it can successfully finish construction of the modern swimming pool.
She said the Dar es Salaam based foundation was established with the aim of empowering young adults and children with developmental disabilities, basically those with Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual impairment, ADHD and cerebral palsy and the pool will provide aqua therapy to them .
Lebi said Salt Foundation provides vocational and life skills to the disabled children so that they are able to live to their full potential and are able to better meet their diverse individual needs in their future.
“ Our foundation offers therapy, vocational education, life skills, entrepreneurship, counselling, advocacy and inclusive work opportunities and our modern swimming pool which is situated in Bagamoyo ,Coast Region will among others be used for aqua therapy and also host local and international events,” she said .
According to her ,Salt Foundation, which was established in 2019, currently has 51 students pursuing various courses and its mission is to improve quality of life through vocational education, entrepreneurship, counseling, advocacy and advisory services.
“ Our vision is to be a center of excellence providing quality services that enrich the lives of people with developmental disabilities, we provide aqua therapy,ABA therapy ,Occupational therapy ,music therapy ,physiotherapy, vocational training ,Independence, sports and employment readiness,” she said.
In a separate interview , Tanzania Paralympics Committee(TPC) Secretary General Ramadhan Namkoveka also thanked the foundation for its effort to see that disabled people are given necessary support to take part in sporting activities.
He said there is a need for disabled people to take part in sports as this gives them confidence and self belief.
" We thank SALT Foundation for investing in infrastructures like a modern swimming pool which is being built in Bagamoyo ,this is a very welcome development ,"said Namkoveka who is also Tanzania Para Swimming Association(TPSA)Secretary General.