Swim Vietnam Update 2023
International Director Sandra McGuire introduced the Guest Speakers Duy Nhu Nguyen and Cam Nhu, from Swim Vietnam, a recipient of Karrinyup Rotary International funding. Duy and Cam provided an update on the work and changes, which Swim Vietnam has implemented during the past year.
Duy and Cam told us that 2,000 children drown in Vietnam each year. That is more than 5 children every day. The World Health Organisation calls it the “silent epidemic” and believes this figure to be conservative. Many of these lives could have been saved simply if the children had been taught how to swim.
Swim Vietnam trains swimming teachers, builds swimming pools and works in partnership with national and local government to establish swim schools giving free swimming and water safety lessons to prevent children from drowning.
Donations utilised to fund to survival swimming programme in rural area of Bac Tra My district, Quang Nam. Part of the Karrinyup Rotary funding was used to support Swim Vietnam's attendance at the World Conference on Drowning Prevention (WCDP2023) held in Perth from 4-7 December 2023.
Statistics in Bac Tra My, Quang Nam
- 100% - Water safety test after completing the course
- 98% - Streamline with Kick Action reached to 5m
- 97% - Back Float Style reached to 10m
- 90% - Freestyle Swim Style reached to 10m
- 90% - Back Swim Style reached to 10m
- 87% - Survival Backstroke style reached to 10m
Achievements
- Over 33,000 children taught to swim.Over 5,000 teachers trained: 1,800 swim teachers / 3,600 water safety teachers.
- Over 240,000 received classroom water safety education.
- 15 swimming pools built.
- Advice and assistance to government on drowning prevention policy.
Future Projects - in Quang Nam province
Duy and Cam thanked RC Karrinyup and RC Wanneroo for their generous support, which will greatly assist in giving Vietnamese children a skill that could save their lives.