“Some people are terrified of water”: in Gironde, free lessons to help children learn to swim

Immerse only the tip of your chin in the water, lie shamelessly, or lift the waterline to walk across. This afternoon, Samuel, Gabriel, and Calvin are doubling their creativity to dodge the instructions of Héloise Laffargue, their lifeguard, which are nonetheless very clear: put your head in the water. For Samuel, this scheme is far from simple pranks. Even in the shower, fear wins: he categorically refuses to put his head under water.

Every day during the first two weeks of August, this small group of children from the commune of Le Teich (Gironde), aged 7 to 13, meet in the murky waters of the Leyre, a tributary of the Arcachon basin, for an hour of fun activities and splashing around in this swimming spot. "Some are terrified of water, most have never had the opportunity to take a swimming lesson. The goal is to familiarize them with water and make them independent," explains Héloise Laffargue.

Organized since 2014 by the Gironde department, the Objectif nage program allows children in this same age group to benefit from free swimming lessons. In 2025, 576 children were enrolled in this program, which also aims to prevent drowning. This summer, even more than last, drownings are common on the Atlantic coast.

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