Ahead of the 2025 Sainte Devote Rugby Tournament, Princess Charlene welcomed over 100 children to a special Water Safety day aimed at teaching lifesaving skills and raising awareness of drowning prevention.
On Thursday 24th April, the swimming pool of the Louis-II Stadium in Monaco was transformed into a hub of learning and laughter as the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation hosted its latest Water Safety initiative. The morning event, which took place in advance of the international Sainte Devote Rugby Tournament this weekend, was attended by Princess Charlene herself and brought together children from nine different nations for a dynamic introduction to aquatic rescue.
Organised under the direction of Pierre Frolla, world champion freediver and Ambassador of the Foundation, the event was part of the foundation’s broader mission to combat drowning worldwide — a cause close to the Princess’s heart. With support from the Monegasque Academy of the Sea, children aged 8 to 12 were guided through a series of workshops combining hands-on water safety instruction with team-building games.
The 108 children in attendance represented the nine international teams participating in this year’s tournament — hailing from Mauritius, Ecuador, New Zealand, Argentina, the USA, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, and Georgia. For many of them, it was their very first experience of formal aquatic rescue training.
The aquatic programme included modules such as CPR basics, water polo, rescue techniques using tubes and pulling methods, non-swimmer ball games, diving board challenges, and an obstacle course. Alongside the poolside sessions, three land-based workshops were offered by the Monaco Red Cross, the Monaco Anti-Doping Committee, and the Monaco Olympic Committee, promoting holistic values around health, responsibility, and teamwork.
“This kind of day is about more than just swimming,” said Pierre Frolla. “It’s about empowering young people to act in emergencies, to understand water risks, and to support each other — wherever they come from, whatever sport they play.”
As the children left the poolside with beaming smiles, many having completed CPR and rescue drills for the first time, the message was clear: water safety saves lives — and learning it can be fun, too.
Monaco Life is produced by a team of real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tik Tok.
Photos source: Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation