The Splash Foundation, founded in 2015 by Libby Alexander and Simon Holliday, began offering swimming lessons to domestic helpers before expanding to children with disabilities, low-income families, and ethnic minorities. The charity has taught over 11,000 disadvantaged people to swim for free and this year received funding from the Operation Santa Claus campaign to support its summer Splash Camp for 250 low-income children.
Libby Alexander from the US and Simon Holliday from the UK noticed many domestic helpers and Hong Kong residents unable to swim at local beaches and decided to act. Despite Hong Kong being surrounded by water and boasting plentiful pools, swimming lessons are not mandatory, many schools lack pools, and private classes are costly. A 2014 survey by Baptist University revealed that 46.7 per cent of Hong Kong secondary students could not swim. The following year, the pair founded the Splash Foundation to offer free lessons to those without access.
The charity started with domestic helpers and later expanded to children with physical or mental disabilities (SEN), low-income families, and ethnic minorities. By the end of 2025, it had taught 11,145 people from disadvantaged backgrounds to swim and aims to reach 25,000 by 2030.
This year, the Splash Foundation is among 13 charities funded by the annual Operation Santa Claus (OSC) fundraising campaign. The support will allow it to rent pools and hire coaches and lifeguards for its intensive summer programme, Splash Camp, benefiting another 250 children from low-income families. These initiatives not only enhance water safety but also boost participants' confidence and social integration.