Swim To Survive - BLOG post No.1

Swim to Survive in Vietnam 2017
Preparation! 
A group of seven SLSGB volunteers’ lifesavers will be heading out to Hue in Vietnam on Thursday for a few weeks to help teach disadvantage children and adults in and around the coastline of Vietnam on how to be safe by the sea. They are using their own funds to support this project also, sharing their skills, knowledge and strengths to others.
We will be working in partnership with Graham Buckley director of Help Hue, which  already provide free swimming lessons for the most disadvantaged children, who are living in precarious housing in flood prone areas where flooding is extremely common. They teach children how to swim in local environments- rivers, lagoon and in the sea.
 
Our aim is to deliver free workshops of rescue skills- how to assist those who are in trouble and introducing lifesaving sport. Creating a better understanding, safer attitudes and adding the sport element which will improve their skills and wellbeing. 
 
In Vietnam drowning truly is a public health issue, many local people are not aware of its magnitude. Even in situations where people are knowledgeable about the reality of the problem, they don’t necessarily know how to prevent drowning or assist those who are in trouble. Because of this swimming programs are now being set up and offered to children in some areas to help eliminate preventable drowning, however more help is needed and there is still much to do!
 
We did a similar project out in Cape Town South Africa, which was very rewarding and something that we loved doing and we can’t wait to do it again in Vietnam.
 
A big thank you to Braunton local businesses for the raffle prizes and to other lifesavers  for donating their unwanted costumes and googles also, we have had great financial support from WSLSC, Tim Coventry and SLSGB, which will help towards transfers to difference locations, translators and equipment.
  
The team that are traveling:
Tracy and Richard Lark
Summer, Nalani, Hannah and Jason Whiteley
Bazza- Harry Halsey
 
Watch out for our next blog

​Below is a picture of the suitcase full of the donated swimming costumes and goggles. Thank you to anyone who donated them!