10 - 13th May 2011 DaNang Vietnam

Recently leaders in a range of fields came together in DaNang, Vietnam.  This gathering was the World Conference on drowning prevention 2011, a get together of 400 delegates from 50 different countries all with a common goal of reducing the drowning toll world wide.  Ben and I were fortunate enough to be asked to attend the conference to share our thoughts on grass roots preventions specifically to teach children to swim and about water safety.

The conference focused on 'building a global platform to reduce drowning'.  Building this platform meant bringing together people from a variety of fields.  Researchers were siting next to swim teachers, who spoke to policy makers that drank with lifeguards that lunched with Medical experts that well you get the idea.  This seemed like it may simply turn into a talk fest all about what should be happening or who should be responsible.  What we found was many are 'doing' with an 'I will own that project' attitude.  This was refreshing and great to see.

There were a number of great programs demonstrating community benefits in developing countries.  One that stood out to us was the 'Nile Swimmers Project'.  This project teaches swimming and lifeguarding skills, and facilitates wider discussion on innovative prevention methods.  The impact of this program is not only on water safety but has a huge humanitarian impact.  This is because it brings together people who have previously been in conflict.  The common goal, team work and shared success has helped to ease tension between tribes and political groups.  We really love the work these guys are doing and send a special congratulations to Tilal, Tom and Dan. 

For our part in proceedings Ben presented uswim.com to delegates and spoke about the potential benefits it offers to developing communities.  We get daily feedback from individual parents using the program and see an opportunity for wider communities to take ownership of teaching their kids to swim.  We believe that where professional swim instructors are not an option, large groups of children can be taught by community leaders having learnt the uSwim program.  This can become a self sustaining program as knowledge can be developed and passed on from within using uSwim.com as learning tool and practical guide.
We will be testing this belief later in the year when we endeavor to show an orphanage in Mauritius how they can teach their own children to swim.

Over the next couple of weeks we will post information about some of the great programs and Individuals we came across while in Vietnam.  We will post photos and links on our Facebook page, so make sure you check it out.