In August 2011 further AUSTSWIM teacher of swimming and water safety training was conducted to increase the number and quality of swimming instructors in Hoi An and Duy Xuyen in Central Vietnam in order to reduce the risk of children drowning.

 Many of these deaths could be prevented if the children knew how to swim. Yet swimming lessons are sadly very rare due to the critical need for properly qualified swimming teachers in Vietnam.

 

AUSTSWIM, in conjunction with Swim Vietnam ran a swim teacher training course in Hoi An, Central Vietnam in August 2011.  AUSTSWIM is Australia’s leading organization for the training of teachers of swimming and water safety.  Swim Vietnam is a UK registered charity which provides free swimming and water safety lessons to Vietnamese children.

 

Thirty-one people completed the 5 day course.  Once they have gained sufficient teaching experience on the Swim Vietnam program they will achieve their AUSTSWIM certification.  The teachers from Hoi An will be employed on the Swim Vietnam program in 2012 to allow the charity to expand and reach more children in Hoi An next year.

 

Training teachers in Duy Xuyen allows Swim Vietnam to expand into Duy Xuyen district which is a rural district outside of Hoi An, which suffers particularly badly from flooding during rainy season. Expanding into areas outside Hoi An is Swim Vietnam’s long term goal, so this is a big strategic step forward for our charity.  We erected an above ground swimming pool in a school in Duy Xuyen and a 6 week swim program was run.  The new teachers gained their teaching experience overseen by experienced Swim Vietnam teachers.

 

These new teachers will be able to teach independently on the program next year. 120 children have been successfully taught to swim in Duy Xuyen and learnt water safety skills which could save their lives in event on a flood.  Next year at least 500 children will be taught at this new venue.