Chairman’s blog May 2021

Hello supporters of WSV,

 I hope this blog finds you well and happy. We have now gone from a time of lockdown to a time of vaccination. Hopefully you can see this as a step closer to being able to travel internationally. Only the government can give us guidance on our return to travel (and even they don’t know sometimes).

It can seem like we at WSV are sitting on our hands having pushed the pause button on programs last year, but I can assure you that we have been keeping in contact (huge thanks Pam and crew) with our partners over in Vietnam. And this communication has resulted in WSV funding school programs throughout the Ho Tram and Phuoc Buu districts, and also Bien Hoa where St Joseph’s school have just put on a program using teachers trained by WSV. We assist with bus fares and pool entry fees to enable these school and kinder programs to go ahead. Thank you goes to Ms Lan of St Joseph Bien Hoa, Mr Chinh and I especially would like to acknowledge the hard work done by Chantelle Stork, manager of Sanctuary Resort Ho Tram to help get the Ho Tram kinder program up and going. Chantelle even got into the water to help the children. All 3 of these amazing people,(Ms Lan, Mr Chinh and Chantelle) are passionate about children in their care and area, learning water safety skills.

Another way we have been able to assist in the reduction of childhood drownings in Vietnam is our association with Swim Vietnam. Mr Trung from Swim Vietnam has had the help of a donor called “Money in motion”. Because WSV cannot travel to Vietnam to present teacher training at the moment, we have agreed to provide vital funds to assist in the teaching of swimming and water safety teachers by Swim Vietnam. This is a way that our mission of teacher training will still live on, and the more teachers trained, the more children are taught.

A huge thank you to Elvy Tran and Sophie Le for keeping us in touch with these and other programs. We cannot thank you enough.

At our next meeting, we will all hopefully meet. It has been so long since the committee has got together, and I am keen to see as many smiling faces as possible. Look out for the details in your emails.

Until the next blog, stay safe and happy

Tim Kemp

Chairman -Water Safety Vietnam

Chairman’s Blog September – Tim Kemp

Hello and welcome to the Chairman’s blog. 

Coronavirus 

While COVID-19 still has our wings clipped, the signs are promising for getting our case numbers to zero soon. This is encouraging for Water Safety Vietnam which means we can hopefully continue to plan projects and programs. 

Having said this, there are programs happening in Vietnam which we are directly or indirectly involved in. Our support for the children of Vietnam doesn’t stop just because we cannot travel there at the moment. We are providing financial and emotional support to schools and organisations in Vietnam as they teach their children using swimming teachers that we have trained and mentored in past years. 

Volunteer profile 

I would like to start highlighting some volunteers who have helped WSV along the way. This blog will honour the commitment, dedication and friendship of a very special person to WSV. 

Ms Le Thi Hong has volunteered with WSV since 2012. She has been a swimming teacher for many years and her commitment to helping Vietnamese children in Ho Chi Minh City has been exemplary. I have been going to Vietnam presenting AUSTSWIM courses at Universities since 2012 and created an association with Ms Hong when she volunteered to assist with the practical assessments. She has always given her time and devotion to the AUSTSWIM candidates and the reward for her is the satisfaction of showing the trainees the best way of teaching swimming to children. Her cheerful and encouraging techniques are a constant source of admiration to me. 

Whenever Ms Hong arrives at the pool for a practical session, we go through a briefing session and her attention to detail is always there. (She also brings her home baked cakes for us to share which is great!) 

Thank you Ms Hong for your help and we hope to continue our relationship long into the future. 

Thank you and watch this space for my next blog. 

Tim Kemp 

Chairman 

Water Safety Vietnam 

Chairman’s Blog – Tim Kemp

 Welcome to the first Chairman’s blog at Water Safety Vietnam. 

With the restrictions regarding international travel upon us, it seems like Vietnam (and every other country) is another world away. But I can assure you that my mind is constantly on the children of Vietnam and their ability to learn swimming and water safety. 

Although we cannot travel to continue our good work over there at the moment, swimming programs are still progressing thanks to the training of teachers by our volunteers over the years. 

Whether it is a Water Safety Vietnam Teacher course and children’s program held in a province, or an AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety course conducted at a university, there are many qualified Vietnamese swimming teachers able to help the children of Vietnam. It is humbling to hear about many of these Vietnamese swimming teachers stepping up to volunteer. 

It is my hope that we can recommence programs in 2021, providing, of course, that travel resumes. 

I have been truly blessed by being elected Chairman of this amazing organisation. The board and committee of WSV are a dynamic, hardworking, dedicated group of volunteers who devote their time to help reduce the childhood drowning statistics in Vietnam. We are proud of our achievements since 2011. The most outstanding contribution we have made is raising awareness that drowning is preventable and helping the Vietnamese government realise the need for swimming and water safety to be a part of the school curriculum. This recognition ensures that most children will receive some form of swimming instruction. 

While our wings have been clipped for now, our minds are firmly set on continuing our mission and vision for Vietnamese children being safer in and around water. 

Thank you and watch this space for my next blog. 

Tim Kemp 

Chairman 

Water Safety Vietnam