Statistically, there is a 70 percent higher rate of accidental drownings for African American children than white children, and 64 percent don’t know how to swim, writes Sharifa Jackson for 6abc.

Jackson suffered the trauma of a near-drowning at age 14 while at a pool party with friends.  Now she’s turned to the Nile Swim Club in Yeadon and instructor Nellda Harris for help.

The Nile Swim Club, one of the oldest historically Black swim clubs in the country, is providing swim lessons to keep children and adults safe in the water.

Jackson stayed out of deep water for 16 years because of the trauma of her near drowning,

“A lot of your problems were because of what happened in the past, you have that in the back of your head. That fear is very real,” said Harris.

Eight lessons later, Jackson was swimming, mores comfortable and secure in the water.

“I want my kids to be able to swim and we all can feel safe in the water and have a good time because I spent way too much time in oceans in pools not to be able to swim,” said Jackson.

Read more about Sharifa Jackson’s experience with the Nile Swim Club at 6abc.