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The Swim For Life Project (SFL) coordinated with the Department of Education and Training of Quang Tri on December 30 to organize a conference to review the project on preventing child drowning in Quang Tri province for the 2023-2024 period.

Swim for Life Vietnam, a program under the international non-governmental organization Golden West Humanitarian Foundation teaches elementary school students water safety and swimming skills.

In recent times, the Quang Tri Department of Education and Training has coordinated with departments, branches and localities to focus on implementing many solutions to prevent drowning for children at the age 6-15. In particular, the Department of Education and Training has coordinated with Swim For Life to implement activities to prevent drowning for children in Quang Tri in the 2023-2024 period.

The project is being implemented in four localities, including Trieu Phong, Cam Lo, Vinh Linh and Huong Hoa districts, from June 2023 (Huong Hoa-new district started in June 2024).

The conference aimed to evaluate the activities of the project on preventing child drowning in Quang Tri province for the 2023-2024 period and to develop an operational orientation for 2025.

Speaking at the conference, Mai Huy Phuong, deputy director of the Quang Tri Department of Education and Training, said that the project to prevent and combat drowning in children implemented in recent times is a humane and meaningful activity. In Quang Tri, the rate of child drowning deaths has decreased in recent years, but each incident has left serious consequences and pain for families and society.

The Swim For Life was first implemented in Trieu Phong district and expanded to three other localities, creating a great opportunity for schools and children to have a more complete and comprehensive approach. With synchronous solutions from the support project, together with schools and localities, it has brought about important results.

Along with that, all sectors have closely coordinated to come up with synchronous solutions, holding many activities to create a spread. Thanks to that, the drowning rate in recent years has decreased significantly. However, we do not take that as a goal to achieve but are always vigilant to propose better solutions," Phuong emphasized.

To have a safe and meaningful summer for children, while contributing to minimize the fatal drownings for children aged 6-15, equipping with survival swimming skills and knowledge on drowning prevention has recently been given priority in most localities across the country, including Quang Tri province.

As reported, in two years, more than 100 teachers have participated in training and refresher courses to teach swimming to children, schools organized 138 safe swimming classes for 2,900 children, at 11 swimming pools in four project districts. Communication, education on water safety knowledge and skills for children, through theoretical and practical lessons along with extracurricular activities for nearly 9,000 children were organized.

The project was implemented to help improve the capacity of the teaching staff after participating in training courses and teaching practice.

Moreover, knowledge and skills on water safety and safe swimming for children were consolidated and enhanced.

In addition, the awareness of the community, parents and students themselves has changed positively, they clearly understand the meaning of the program, support and actively participate.

Maximum community/social resources in terms of facilities and funding were mobilized. On the other hand, the leadership and direction role of authorities at all levels, departments, branches, and socio-political organizations has been strengthened to maximize the effectiveness of activities related to drowning prevention for children.

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