Berkshire County swimming program inspiring change after student drowns

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (NEWS10) -- A tragedy in Berkshire County has sparked a movement for change. The teacher who tried to save a 12-year-old student from drowning on a field trip in July 2024, is now one of the co-founders of a new water safety program called Safe Swim Berkshires.

Linda Dulye and Jennifer Roccabruna said they are now best friends, but just over a year ago, they did not know each other at all.

"We had this burning feeling inside that this is not acceptable in our community," said Dulye. "There was no doubt that something needed to be done. That tragedy had to be turned into action," said Roccabruna.

This comes after 12-year-old student Giver Essien drowned on July 17, 2024, on a field trip to Benedict Pond near Great Barrington. Roccabruna was with a separate group of children on the trip that day, and ended up pulling Giver's body out of the water.

"We had to find a solution because it was something that changed us as people and needs to change other peoples lives as well to know how to swim," said Roccabruna.  

The tragedy of Giver's death, sparked a movement that Dulye and Roccabruna are now pushing forward. In April they began a pilot program for Safe Swim Berkshires, a water safety program to teach young adults not only how to swim, but how to survive in the water.

"What is so different about this curriculum is that we are not teaching technical swimming we are teaching about how to save yourself if you find yourself in a water emergency," said Roccabruna.

The April pilot program was a homerun, with dozens of volunteers and major progress from the kids involved. Dulye said throughout the week, they focus mainly on kids at risk of peer pressure, between the ages of 12 and16 years old.

"That vulnerable age that do not want to say, 'I don't know how to swim,' when they're getting peer pressured to jump into a lake or pool," said Dulye. "What they're learning is how to navigate before I even get in the water, understanding the depth, understanding if there's a drop off, understanding if there's stairs to get in." 

This week, the program is officially off the ground. There are volunteers that work one-on-one with each young adult to teach them basics such as floating, kicking their feet and more. Volunteers like Erin Maloy and Marilyn Hickey said they are doing this to inspire change.

"We forget that not all kids are introduced to the water at a very young age," said Maloy. “He’s had to learn getting his face in the water, learning breathing skills front and back floating," said Hickey. "

Safe Swim Berkshires recently partnered with the Pittsfield YMCA, which is where the lessons are held. Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of the Pittsfield YMCA Christian Bianchi said it has been heartwarming to be a part of.

"All week I've allocated the 12-1 hour to be able to watch it in action," said Bianchi. "I think more than anything else, its safety around the water but it also increases self esteem and confidence."

Additionally, many of the kids involved are from Ghana, Africa, where swimming is not always familiar to them.

"It's so scary because every Ghana people are scared of water especially my mom," said Issabell Nhyira Ashiley, a 16-year-old part of the program.

However, through fear, they're learning everything they can. 12-year-old Henrietta Owusu has been learning different basics all week. She said at first, she was nervous to touch the water.

"It was really scary at first because I was traumatized and stuff but now I'm feeling comfortable in the water and stuff and I think I can do it by myself without my instructor," said Henrietta. "I mastered like how to roll over because I used to sink when I do that but now I can even go in the deep end which is surprising."

Both Issabell and Henrietta were friends with Giver, and many of the kids in the program were even on the field trip the day that Giver died. Henrietta shared that the reason she joined this program, is in honor of Giver.

“I think I’ll still be coming here forever this has been so much fun," said Henrietta. "Thank you to everyone for this opportunity and thank you to Giver. You still hold a place in our hearts we will miss you forever and we hope we see each other in Heaven."

Dulye and Roccabruna hope to one day bring this program to Pittsfield Public Schools. So far, the YMCA has raised $13,000 in donations to keep it going.

"We can give them a voice to say to their friend, 'that's not a good thing to go jumping off the dock into the lake because I don't think any of our friends to swim," said Dulye. "They need to now have the courage to speak up and not be spectators to an incident that could be – change their lives – what happened in July 2024."

Two staff members with Pittsfield Public Schools, Linda Whitacre and Meghan Braley, are currently facing charges in Giver's death. For more information on their charges and court dates, check out this article. Anyone interested in being part of the Safe Swim Berskhires, can find out more information on their website.