Water Safety - A community Response - A Rotary project
In January, 680 Myanmar children living in the various construction camps and now attending the Saint Euphrasia Banya Literacy Centre, nervously entered the water, dressed in their new swimming costumes at the British International School swimming pool.
Like all non-swimmers, there was a mix of delight, trepidation and even fear. Lack of water skills and the fear of water itself has led to deaths through drowning.
Between 2007 and 2017, there were over 9574 fatal drownings involving children under 15, which averages to about 957 children per year, or a shocking three children per day.
The number of fatal drowning is, reportedly, highest during the months-long Thai school holidays. Most drownings occur near children’s home in rivers or ponds of water made more disastrous by a non-swimmer trying to save another. Swimming is not taught in Thai schools.
So serious has become the issue that a community response has been needed.
This has been taken up by a range of community groups working collaboratively and is the beginning of what needs to be not only a Phuket but a national response.
Led by Dr John Schorr of the Rotary Club of Chiang Mai - International, supported by the Safe Child Thailand Foundation, the Water Safety programme, using the guidelines of the Royal Life Saving programme requiring 15 hours of instruction over 10 lessons commenced in 2018.
Having established the project in Chiang Mai Municipal Schools for all nine-year-olds, the water safety project was extended to the Ban Sianamyen School in Patong, supported by the Rotary Club of Patong Beach, which has established the Larry Amsden Swim Safe Programme.
Working with the Asia Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) and undergoing Instructor training with Oz Swim Aquatics, an Australian based volunteer group, the project successfully secured a Direct Aid Grant from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which allowed the extension to the Banya Centre. What a remarkable effort this has been!
With the generous support of the principal of the Secondary School, the professional approach and dedication of the BIS Aquatics Director and her team supported by many teachers students and 7 volunteer parents, these nervous students over a ten day period changed from being shy and nervous to a minimum level of personal safety in water with some showing some exceptional swimming ability.
At a ceremony held at the Banya centre, the Australian Consul General Mr Craig Ferguson was greeted by a junior kangaroo and feted by students, dancing and singing the three national anthems.
Every student was presented with a medal and certificate by Dr Schorr and Mr Ferguson.
The ceremony brought together all the various interest groups and was a time for celebration of a wonderful story with a real safety outcome.
The Rotary Club of Patong Beach has committed itself to the continuation of the project under the leadership of Dr Johan in organizing some PADI instructors to undertake an Internationally registered course at Phuket Town in April.