Swimming For Safety

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Why swimming?

In Hue and the surrounding provinces flooding is extremely common, yet it is common for both adults and children to be unable to swim. By providing free swimming lessons for the most disadvantaged children - who are also those most likely to be living in precarious housing in flood prone areas - we can help limit the human cost of extreme weather conditions.

In 2007, Hue Help carried out a survey of the orphanages in Hue. We found that around 95% of the the children could not swim. Children living in this sort of environment, where supervision is usually substantially less than in a family environment, are placed at great risk during times of flooding. Our program teachers children in these risk areas basic swimming skills, but also rescue and prevention skills.

Aside from the risk that children face if they cannot swim our program provides the children with a great chance to exercise, meet a lot of other children, and gives them another activity during their summer holiday period.

The program is currently open to all orphanages in Hue city, and runs for six weeks during the summer holidays. The program ran in 2007, and again in 2008.

How much does it cost?
Our Swimming for Safety program this year cost £750. The cost of the swimming tuition to orphans was subsidised by one third by the local swimming pools.

Project reports

Download the report of the 2008 program here!

Download the report of the 2007 program here!

For the future...
We intend to carry out this program in 2009, to further swimming skills for children. We are also in the process of assessing other righ risk groups to provide swimming tuition to as well. Watch this space for our 2009 proposal!