‘International musician, marathon swimming pioneer, inspirational speaker, and entrepreneur’. This is the heading which greets you as you look at the website for this incredibly talented woman – Carina Bruwer! She has achieved so much in her 40-year life. But it is her passion for music, coupled with her passion for uplifting the children of South Africa, that made her most noticeable to us, at #ImStaying.
On 29 February 2020, Carina successfully completed her endeavor of being the first woman to swim across Nelson Mandela Bay. A distance of about 21 kilometres, this swim raised much-needed funds for her beloved charity – Muzukidz.
“The organisation, founded in Cape Town in 2015, provides a platform where youngsters and families from all cultural and economic backgrounds can learn, play music together, and interact. To date, more than 350 primary school learners have been introduced to, and receive free violin tuition, on an ongoing basis.
“And at the end of the day . . . you are making a meaningful contribution to the world around you.”
In addition to regular radio and television appearances, many of them already enjoy performing at public events, concerts, and festivals in and around Cape Town.
Teaching a world-renowned early childhood music development programme called the Suzuki method, Muzukidz supports the many benefits of early music tuition. This includes the development of academic, social and physical skills, self-esteem and patience, as well as exposure to other cultures.
“The ultimate aim of the organisation is to offer all learners the gift of music. By doing so it opens a new world of possibilities – be it becoming a professional musician, or merely a well-rounded, inspired adult later in their lives.”
“Crossing Nelson Mandela Bay has been on my bucket list for longer than I can remember,” says Carina, who is an open-water swimming veteran. Her resume includes numerous records and iconic crossings such as the English Channel, False Bay, the Gibraltar Straits, and dozens more. “I just never quite got round to it, but when Muzukidz, the NPO that I support with all my heart and efforts, opened a branch in Port Elizabeth, the time had certainly come!”
“The kids just gave me so much joy and I entered the water with a sense of purpose. “
Operating from Settlers Park Primary in Walmer, Port Elizabeth, Muzukidz has one teacher in PE. She has taken 50 young children from townships in and around PE under her wing. Children are taught at no cost to the families. Muzukidz relies solely on external funding to cover costs for teachers, instruments, and teaching material. The organisation hopes to be able to appoint a second teacher in PE and reach 150 children by mid-2020.
Talking post swim, Carina says, “The kids just gave me so much joy and I entered the water with a sense of purpose. It was not an easy swim. The temperature was a few degrees colder than I would have liked for a long swim like this, with the cool outside temperature and overcast conditions contributing to a consistent drop in body temperature. Thanks to the cause and the enthusiasm of the children, as well as the amazing support team from Adventure Swims ZA, I managed to stay positive. This allowed me to keep up my stroke rate for most of the distance.”
When asked about her concern of sharks and whether she experienced any hair raising moments, Bruwer’s response was, “Not really. I can’t explain why, but when I’m out there in the ocean, I don’t feel the fear. Sometimes I have to remind myself that it is very possible that a great white is a few meters underneath me, doing what it does best – hunt! But I just don’t feel threatened at all. Perhaps it is because I’m so happy out there, in this wild place of beauty. It is also a fact that humans are not a natural part of a shark’s diet. The relatively few incidents that do occur, are often cases of mistaken identity. I have two boats in close proximity, as well as crew watching for sharks, so I’m OK. They did spot a couple of hammerheads but they were going in a different direction so there was no panic.”
What gets Carina motivated to do this? What wise words does she have for the youth of South Africa?
“As a sensitive and concerned South African, I am in the fortunate position of being able to do what I love. I really wish that this could be true for every South African, but that is far from reality. Being hugely inspired by the Muzukidz project, I believe they are changing the futures of the children involved, as well as their families. Creating a space for children to be able to have a dream and achieve, and by doing what I do, I can – in my small way – share this gift with more children and families. This indirectly helps create hope for a larger community. There are many South Africans who can do something similar, simply by doing what they love. The needs are enormous, it’s easy to make a difference! And at the end of the day, you are doing it for yourself too, as you are making a meaningful contribution to the world around you.”
“I’m elated about the success of the fundraising – we have exceeded the R25 000 mark and going strong; in fact I have increased the target and I know we can make this. Each additional R1 000 buys another violin, which literally changes at least one life”, says Carina.
Edited By: Michelle Pagel
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