Fourways Teen Tackles Robben Island Swim to Raise Funds for Local Charity

 Luca Amerseder, Sixteen-year-old is set to brave the icy waters between Robben Island and Cape Town as part of a personal challenge and school project. With no prior swimming experience until a few months ago, the Johannesburg teen has chosen an 8km open-water swim to raise R20,000 for a charity close to his heart—Genesis Ministries of South Africa.

A Grade 11 learner at Michael Mount Waldorf School in Fourways, Amerseder is taking on the Robben Island Escape challenge in May 2025. His project requires both theoretical research and a practical task that pushes him beyond his comfort zone. Choosing open-water swimming was no easy feat. “I’ve never liked swimming, never trained for it until recently,” he said.

What started as a school assignment soon became a mission with greater purpose. Amerseder was first introduced to Genesis Ministries during a community camp in Port Shepstone last year and was deeply moved by their work. “I wanted to do something meaningful, something that would challenge me and give back. Supporting Genesis was an easy choice after seeing the impact they make.”

Genesis Ministries, based in KwaZulu-Natal, focuses on care, sport, education, and social justice. It runs eight programmes that support vulnerable communities with healthcare, education, and emotional support, particularly for those affected by chronic illnesses like HIV/AIDS, TB, and cancer.

“Luca is a young man who came with his school to volunteer in our programmes,” said Jono Downham from Genesis Hope South Africa. “To see someone so young take on such a massive challenge to support our work is humbling. It gives us hope for future leaders.”

Through the Genesis Community Hope and Care initiative, the organisation offers medical and emotional care to individuals recovering from strokes, post-operative conditions, and other serious health issues. Amerseder and his classmates witnessed this work first-hand. “We spent time with orphaned children and accompanied the medical team in the community. The kindness and care I saw left a lasting impression,” he said.

To support his swim, Amerseder launched a Back-a-Buddy campaign to raise funds for Genesis Ministries. Donations can be made anonymously or publicly, and every rand will help strengthen the organisation’s ongoing efforts.

For Amerseder, this challenge is about more than swimming—it’s about stepping up for a cause and helping communities rise from hardship into hope.

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Sourced:EWN

Picture: Good Things Guy/BackaBuddy