NBA Memorial Foundation

04/09/2026

This is so sad to read, and we feel so terrible, as we have been advocating against drowning incidents for years now. As a swimmer, you should know your limits because even experienced swimmers can drown. Always respect the water by swimming only in the supervised areas where lifeguards are present; swim with a friend who can quickly call for help if you're in danger. Please let's prioritize our safety in or around any body of water.

The family of Wendji Vades, a 25-year-old Cameroonian student based in Lyon, is appealing for help to repatriate his body after he drowned in Lake Annecy, France.

Wendji died on Saturday, August 29, while swimming off Plage de la Brune at Veyrier-du-Lac.

French local media reporting on the incident says emergency services were alerted at about 3:49 p.m. after the 25-year-old failed to return from the water.

His body was found about 30 metres from the shore and approximately 10 metres below the surface, outside the supervised swimming area.

He was brought out of the water in cardiac arrest, but efforts by firefighters and emergency medical personnel to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

Two people who were with him were also attended to by emergency services after being left in shock.

French media reports that a gendarmerie investigation was opened to establish the circumstances surrounding the drowning.

The incident was reportedly the fifth fatal drowning recorded in Lake Annecy this summer.

Wendji’s family in Cameroon is now appealing for financial assistance to have his body repatriated for burial.

For a family already dealing with the sudden death of a young man studying thousands of kilometres from home, the cost and process of bringing his remains back to Cameroon have added another burden to their grief.

02/09/2026

🌊 A New School Year Is Coming, Let’s Keep Our Children Safe!

September means back to school, new beginnings, and new routines. 🎒📚

But as our children return to school, let’s remember one important thing: water safety matters too.

Whether it’s a river, swimming pool, beach, or flooded area, one moment of carelessness can change a life.

This school year, let’s make safety part of what we teach our children:

👀 Supervise them closely around water.
🦺 Use life jackets for children who can’t swim.
🏊 Teach them swimming and water safety skills.

Every child deserves to learn. Every child deserves to be safe. ❤️

Let’s make this school year a safer one for every child in Cameroon.

Learn. Watch. Protect. 🌊

31/08/2026

Save this post. You'll need it before your next trip to the pool, river, lake, or the beach.

Most drownings happen in ordinary moments: a family outing, a quick swim, a child playing near water while an adult looks away for just a second.

These 5 rules are simple, but they save lives. Go through them with your family before your next outing.

Prevention is usually better than cure. Let's make sure every family reading this is prepared.

Save this post and send it to a parent planning a trip to the water this back-to-school period.

28/08/2026

Most think drowning looks like the movies: splashing, screaming, waving for help.

It doesn't.

Drowning is quiet. A child can slip under water in under a minute, right next to an adult, without a single sound.

That's why we do what we do. At NBA Memorial Foundation, we teach children and adults across Yaoundé, Buea, and Limbe how to stay safe in and around water, because awareness is the first step to prevention.

Heavy rains keep falling across the country, and it's our duty as parents to protect our children from drowning. For the next 10 days, we're sharing what every family in Cameroon needs to know to keep their children safe near water.

Tag a parent who needs to see this. Follow us to learn more👇

RNLI NSRI WHO Cameroon Ministère de la Santé Publique du Cameroun Stop Drowning Now United States Lifesaving Association The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson U.S. Embassy Yaounde Commonwealth Drowning Prevention - The Royal Life Saving Society Hue Help

24/08/2026

Happy New Week!!
Let's step into each week with renewed hope, courage, and commitment to saving lives.

Together, we champion drowning prevention, empower communities, and protect futures.

May this week bring safety, strength, and shared purpose for all.

16/08/2026

Our hearts are heavy this week as we watch the flooding crisis unfold across Bamenda and Limbe. Torrential rains have swept away homes, destroyed property, and — most painfully — taken lives, including young children caught in fast-moving floodwaters.

To every family grieving a loved one and every household picking up the pieces of a flooded home: we see you, we grieve with you, and we stand with you.

We also want to honor something powerful in the middle of this tragedy — the ordinary people who became heroes. Neighbors who waded into chest-deep water to carry children to safety. Parents who held their little ones above the current with nothing but sheer will.

Rescue teams who worked through the night, searching until every child was found. Your courage is a reminder of what community looks like when it matters most.

As an organization committed to drowning prevention and water-safety intervention, this moment is also a call to action. Flash floods like these are becoming more frequent, and too many of our communities — especially children — are left without the awareness, skills, or infrastructure to stay safe when the water rises. We're recommitting to our work: water-safety education, flood-response training, and community preparedness, so that fewer families have to bury their children because of a preventable tragedy.

If you're in an affected area and need support, or if you'd like to help our relief and prevention efforts, please reach out or share this post.

🙏 To the lost — you are remembered.

👏 To the rescuers — thank you.

💧 To our communities — let's build a safer tomorrow together.

Swim Global Project RNLI The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson Commonwealth Drowning Prevention - The Royal Life Saving Society NSRI World Health Organization (WHO)

12/08/2026

International Youth Day 2026 — "Different Contexts, Common Aspirations"

Every young person, no matter where they call home, shares the same dream: to grow up safe, to thrive, and to build a future full of possibility.

Today, the NBA Memorial Foundation celebrates the courage and leadership of youth across our communities — especially those stepping up as water safety champions.

From coastal towns to inland communities, drowning remains one of the leading causes of death among young people. But together, we're changing that story.

Through our Safe Secure Swimming initiative, we're equipping young people with the skills, confidence, and knowledge to protect themselves and others near the water.

Because safety shouldn't depend on where you're born — it should be a common right, just like our aspirations are common dreams.

To every young person leading this charge: we see you, we honor you, and we stand with you.
Together, we prevent drowning.

Together, we protect lives. Together, we build a safer, more inclusive future — for every context, for every community.

Stop Drowning Now RNLI The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson Commonwealth Drowning Prevention - The Royal Life Saving Society Hue Help World Health Organization (WHO) SwimFin NSRI Swim Global Project

11/08/2026

SAFETY FIRST, EVERY TIME! 🌊
This week, our young swimmers got more than just strokes and breathing techniques — they learned how to save a life.

As part of our Survival Swimming Programme, we brought CPR training right to the poolside, teaching our kids the basics of administering CPR. Because true water safety isn't just about swimming well — it's about knowing what to do in an emergency, for yourself and for others.

Watching these young swimmers listen with such focus and seriousness reminds us why we do this work. We're not just building swimmers — we're building confident, capable, safety-conscious young people who can respond when it matters most.

Huge thanks to our instructors for making this hands-on lesson both engaging and unforgettable!

RNLI Commonwealth Drowning Prevention - The Royal Life Saving Society World Health Organization (WHO) Stop Drowning Now The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson Hue Help Swim Global Project Nforguh Michelle