Mungo Swim Club | I AM WATER in the Garden Route

In December 2024, we hosted our fourth annual Swim Club – a five-day challenge designed to gather together, feel refreshed, and raise funds for a worthy cause.

Across Cape Town and the Garden Route, 631 swimmers braved the early morning chill to take part in eight Swim Clubs. Their collective commitment helped raise over R175,000, donated to three causes close to our heart: I AM WATER Foundation, Nature’s Valley Trust, and Cultural Connections.
This May, part of those funds materialised into action, as the I AM WATER team returned to Plettenberg Bay for a three-day programme designed to foster connection, confidence, and conservation among local youth.

A Shared Mission

I AM WATER’s work is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: those who feel connected to nature are more likely to protect it. Through transformative ocean experiences, they aim to bridge the gap between under-resourced communities and the marine environments that surround them – communities that may live minutes from the shoreline but have never seen beneath the waves.

The belief in the transformative power of connecting and educating is something that resonates deeply with us – finding that access and experience are strong catalysts of care. It’s why we keep our mill doors open to the public – inviting visitors to see how first threads become finished cloth. We’ve seen how transparency builds understanding and appreciation – of both the natural world, and of things we make and use (and the people who make them). And in the case of textiles, seeing behind the scenes gives visitors a renewed appreciation for the careful workmanship, and multi-step process, that wove their product into existence. An experience that both challenges the contemporary culture of fast, disposable consumerism, but also helps to forge lasting emotional value in the cloth our customers take home.

Much in the same way, donning a snorkel and entering the sea – feeling the cold bite of the water, glimpsing a hermit crab’s shell, or the bright prickly, purplish pop of an anemone – can ignite a lifelong sense of stewardship. And for the learners who joined this year’s Ocean Guardians Workshop, that’s exactly what we hoped to inspire.

The I AM Water Activation at Poortjies Lagoon

Three Days of Discovery

Day one of the programme kicked off with school talks at Bahia Formosa and Phakamisani Primary, where the I AM WATER team spoke of the ocean’s role in our lives: as climate regulator, freshwater source, and oxygen provider (not to mention home to untold natural beauty).
Then came the core of the programme: the Ocean Guardians Workshop, held with 34 learners from Crags Primary. Over two days of experiential learning, the students engaged in mindfulness exercises, intertidal exploration, beach cleanups, and snorkelling – experiences designed to foster not just knowledge, but connection.

Day two unfolded at Poortjies Lagoon in Plettenberg Bay. The group began with yoga and breathwork, before taking part in an educational talk and a guided exploration of the beach. Wetsuits, masks, and snorkels were distributed, and one by one, the learners entered the water to discover marine life beneath the surface.

Day three took the group to Knysna Lagoon, where they built on their skills and confidence. Along the shoreline, they discovered sea hares, anemones, hermit crabs in spiralled shells, and more.

“Thanks to Mungo, we returned to Plettenberg Bay for a second Ocean Guardians Workshop with Crags Primary. This time, I explored new roles – leading intertidal zone exploration at Poortjies Lagoon and guiding a nature walk at Knysna Lagoon. It was a joy to dive deeper into these environments alongside the kids, especially learning and sharing stories about Knysna’s shipwrecks. Over the two days, we spotted an array of sea life – from hermit crabs and spiny sea stars to sea hares and anemones. Some of the children even claimed they saw an octopus! I loved channelling my inner tour guide and sharing my passion for the ocean beyond Cape Town.

I believe it’s important for youth to connect with the ocean so they can develop a passion for it early on and feel empowered to protect it. It’s especially important for young people from under-resourced communities, who often have limited access to the sea. There’s a sense of pride that emerges when they face fears they never thought they would — that’s a beautiful transformation to witness.” – Taahirah, IAW Coach

To mark the experience, each student was gifted a Mungo Scout Towel – a 100% organic cotton towel inspired by the sea. Woven at our mill in Plettenberg Bay, it was designed for young explorers, rockpool-finders, sandcastle-builders, and first-time snorkellers alike.

Such a privilege to partner with this incredible organisation, and their driven team of facilitators. Reflecting on the three days, and the positive feedback from all who took part, drove it home – the power of immersive experience. And the ripple effect of inspired and intentional action.

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