Mathuthwana Portia Mokoena

What does your company do?

SwimaLePortia is a purpose-driven swim education and empowerment initiative focused on delivering professional, accessible, and life-saving swimming instruction to children, youth, and adults—particularly in underserved communities where water skills are a matter of survival, not sport. We don’t just teach swimming—we create transformative opportunities that span safety, health, education, and economic empowerment. Our Value Proposition Water Safety & Drowning Prevention We equip individuals—especially first-time swimmers—with critical water survival skills to reduce preventable deaths and accidents near rivers, dams, pools, and oceans. Swim Survival & Confidence Building Through structured, culturally-relevant swim programs, we help people overcome fear, build water confidence, and gain life-saving resilience. Healthy Lifestyle & Well-being Swimming promotes physical fitness, mental health, and self-discipline, offering a lifelong path to wellness in communities with limited access to recreational health resources. Career Pathways in Aquatics We train and certify youth as coaches, instructors, and water safety educators, unlocking jobs in sports, tourism, emergency services, and education. Water Conservation & Environmental Awareness We integrate water safety with climate consciousness, teaching learners to protect and respect water as a vital resource—supporting long-term sustainability. Retreats, Travel & Exploration Our long-term vision includes eco-conscious travel and swim retreats, giving youth from marginalized backgrounds opportunities to explore South Africa’s aquatic spaces, connect with nature, and dream beyond their immediate environments.

What is your biggest success?

One of our proudest milestones has been the successful empowerment of women through open-water retreats and the upskilling of unemployed youth through a groundbreaking partnership with Mzansi Scuba Diving Academy. We created a safe, supportive space for women—many of whom had never been in open water—to build confidence, courage, and community. These retreats weren’t just recreational; they were life-changing experiences that promoted wellness, self-belief, and leadership among women from marginalized backgrounds. Through our collaboration with Mzansi Scuba Diving Academy, we equipped unemployed youth with advanced aquatic skills—including swimming, diving, and water safety education. These youth were offered career opportunities within the South African Navy, opening doors they never imagined possible.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

our biggest hurdle remains infrastructure. Currently, our ability to deliver life-saving swimming education is limited by seasonal constraints. In cold, rainy, or winter months, outdoor or shared facilities become unusable, forcing us to pause programs and turn away eager learners. The Challenge Inconsistent access to weather-proof or dedicated facilities Limited capacity to serve large numbers year-round The Solution With investment in all-weather infrastructure—such as heated pools, covered training hubs,—we can dramatically scale our reach and impact. What Infrastructure Investment Unlocks: Year-Round Program Delivery Ensure continuity of service, allowing learners to complete full swim and safety courses without seasonal interruptions. Scalability Across Regions Replicate our model in new communities, schools, and provinces—especially those with no aquatic access. Revenue Growth & Sustainability Enable fee-based programs for schools or partners during off-peak hours, supporting long-term financial health. Serve thousands more children and youth annually, and train more instructors from the communities we work in. Infrastructure is the bridge between vision and scale. With your partnership, SwimaLePortia can transform from a seasonal program into a national year-round force for water safety, youth development, and health empowerment.