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