Beyond the Waves | Custom Towels for the Plett Lifeguards
Summer in Plettenberg Bay is renowned. A time of year that sees tens of thousands of locals and holidaymakers alike flock to the town’s pristine Blue Flag beaches to make the most of the sun and surf. But whilst many of us are enjoying the waters or working on our tans, there are those who are hard at work: the lifeguards. Over 60 of whom keep vigil over 13 beaches in the area, right from Nature’s Valley to the Robberg peninsula.
Above and beyond safeguarding our seas, the Lifeguard Programme supports a proactive skill development initiative in Plettenberg Bay. Training and upskilling youths from local communities with valuable skills that set them up for future success.
“We have about 15 kids who come through the programme each year. Some of these kids might take 2-3 years to pass through the necessary training – others a year. So on average that’s about 10 kids every year. A very small fraction of these kids come from affluent communities. They are predominantly from disadvantaged backgrounds,” says Lifeguard Instructor and Examiner, Chas Fraser.
The programme is rigorous, and requires a strong level of commitment. Not to mention peak physicality, strong aquatic skills, effective teamwork and open communication. Constant vigilance is key, as the guards must consistently monitor both the water conditions, and swimmer capability. Those who persevere are led through a comprehensive program of personal and professional development, acquiring skills that open up a world of career options.
“This profession has to have real working skills. You have to be on time, you can’t bunk work, you have to have a lot of discipline. We’ve seen these kids get jobs on cruise ships, in fire and rescue, become paramedics… It’s a stepping stone to earn income and to move onto other careers.”
In support of the programme, and as a gesture of appreciation for the boys and girls in red and yellow, over the last few years we’ve been weaving a special run of our Itawuli – a pure cotton towel that has been a signature of the Mungo range for close to a decade. Keeping the towel’s iconic geometric design, we’ve switched up the colours – an all-red towel with a yellow stripe to reflect the occasion.
“The Mungo towels were among the most cherished sponsorships we’ve received for the individual guards. They love them and have kept them warm, dry and protected from the wind. They are durable, attractive and practical and the squad would like me to thank you for this. External support of the programmes has become a cornerstone in its ability to carry on developing and keeping a highly professional labour force and to direct more funds to our highly successful, disadvantaged community development training. Lifesaving is the catalyst of the programme. But at the end of the day, the real life saving is saving these kids lives; giving them opportunities.”
Since the hand over, we’ve had many customers and beach-goers ask us where they can get their hands on one of these towels. Whilst this red and yellow beauty isn’t part of our current range, you can still shop one of our Itawuli colourways here. And if you spot one on the beach, we’d love to see – tag us at @mungodesign
Shop the In Range Mungo Itawuli
