RWANDA — South Africa’s Robben Island is a former prison colony, most famous for hosting Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela for 18 of his 27 years in prison.

Today it is a popular tourist attraction, and the starting point for a challenging ocean swim. A ten-year-old girl from Cape Town is now the youngest swimmer to complete the daunting 4.6-mile crossing, but she has not done it for the accolades. Instead, Karli Fourie is focusing on raising funds for foster children in her local community. Mark Roughton has more from Cape Town.

South Africa’s Robben Island is a former prison colony, most famous for hosting Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela for 18 of his 27 years in prison. Today it is a popular tourist attraction, and the starting point for a challenging ocean swim. A ten-year-old girl from Cape Town is now the youngest swimmer to complete the daunting 4.6-mile crossing, but she has not done it for the accolades. Instead, Karli Fourie is focusing on raising funds for foster children in her local community. Mark Roughton has more from Cape Town.

Swimming from Robben Island to Bloubergstrand is not the first effort Karli Fourie has made to help orphans and foster children in the Western Cape province. She first learned about Home From Home while participating, at the age of six, in another charity fundraiser, climbing Table Mountain.

Peter Marx – Executive Director, Home from Home:

“I just said to her ‘you know, we look after children who don’t have mommies and daddies.’ And anyway, that story seemed to stick with her, because two days later she and her mom came to the office to deliver a package of clothes that she had packed from out of her wardrobe. Because she wanted to give to those children who don’t have mommies and daddies.”

Karli Fourie – 10 Yr-Old Fundraiser:

“I just thought I wouldn’t like it, to be a child without a mommy or a dad. So, yes, I just decided to do it for them.”

We are at Robben Island. I have swimmers in the water.

Moved by the Biblical call to care for orphans, Karli decided to do something that could raise a significant amount for a cause that is currently severely underfunded.

Peter:

“The bigger context of the South African situation is that we have over a million children who are still looking to be placed in children’s homes or foster homes. So it’s actually a crisis in the country.”

With a goal to raise around two thousand eight hundred dollars, Karli spent seven months training for the 4.6-mile ocean swim. Her faith has dispelled any fear for her safety in the water.

Karli:

“I just told my mom ‘I know Jesus’ hand is over me and I don’t have to worry – I can do it.’ ”

The day before the crossing, as she finished her final training swim, Karli received more assurances that God is watching over her:

Karli:

“When we came out, I just saw this rock. And I said ‘that’s a sign to me’. And then when we walked further, we say this rock, and it says ‘He will sustain you.’ And then I just told my mom ‘this is my sign, and I know I can do it.’ ”

Anél Fourie – Karli’s Mother:

“I’m so proud of her. I’m so, so proud of her. To be honest, I just trusted God. I didn’t think too much about it because I knew He’s got her.”

After unexpectedly completing the full distance during a training swim in November of 2023, Karli’s second successful crossing is not recognised as an official record, because she is younger than the recommended age for such a marathon effort. Her support swimmer, Guinness World Record holder Howard Warrington, is swimming his two hundred and sixth Robben Island crossing, chaperoning Karli to a comfortable finish in three hours and four minutes.

Howard Warrington – Support Swimmer:

“There’s so many reasons to get on the boat. But you have to find one reason to stay in the water. And Karli had that reason nailed down. So, yes, she’s just incredible. For the charities that she was doing, that was very important for her to finish. She finished the swim and did cartwheels on the beach. Most swimmers almost want to leopard crawl to their families.”

So far, Karli’s effort has raised almost three thousand dollars, and perhaps inspired others to use their God-given talents to help meet the needs of the most vulnerable within their own communities.
Mark Roughton in Cape Town, South Africa, reporting for the Global News Alliance.

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