From October 30 to November 2, 30 teachers from primary and secondary schools in the Quang Dien district of Thua Thien Hue province and 10 trainees from the District Women’s Union participated in train-the-trainers workshop on drowning prevention and water stewardship.

The session aimed at equipping trainees with the necessary skills in coping with water accidents. (Photo: HUEFO)

The training session which was called “Swimtayka: Improving water safety and environmental awareness” and organized by the provincial Union of Friendship Organizations (HUEFO) in collaboration with Hue Help (UK) and the Quang Dien District Education and Training Committee Division.

The course provided the teachers with water rescue skills and knowledge in coping with water accidents, and knowledge on how to make an open water location safe.

Using the training-of-trainers model, experts from Hue Help and Swimtayka trained the participants so that they can design their own lectures and share them with the students.

The training program has two major contents: drowning prevention and environmental protection.

The course is integrated with theory and practice with situations in local environments – rivers, lagoons, and in open sea – under safe supervision under STA UK Swimming standards and arguments among participants to select the appropriate content for Quang Dien district.

Drowning is the leading cause of death, even more children die from drowning than in road traffic accidents. Without swimming being offered in schools and a lack of trained swimming coaches, many people in Hue never have the chance to learn to swim.

The abundance of open water (rivers, lakes, the lagoon and the sea) means that drowning prevention here is an absolute priority.

In 2011 following a successful urban programme Hue Help brought the swimming programme to rural Vietnam to provide high quality swimming tuition where it was needed most. Hue Help and partners have now taught over 3,000 children from rural areas surrounding Hue to swim. These children learn about the dangers of open water, water safety, survival skills, and how to rescue others in emergencies.

Hue Help have also trained local school teachers and tutors to ensure that they can continue teaching these skills to even more children./.

VNF