AusLeisure

Swim school operator Paul Sadler Swimland is partnering with a Vietnamese not-for-profit organisation to improve water safety in the coastal city of Hoi An.

The Victorian-based aquatic educator is partnering Swim Vietnam in building Vietnam's first 'Swim and Survive' centre. With a shortage of swim teachers in Vietnam and little promotion of water safety, the partnership will involve expert swim trainers from Paul Sadler Swimland visiting Vietnam to share their water safety knowledge.

Once established, the Vietnam swim centre will provide free swimming and water safety lessons to children and will be used to train adults as swimming teachers.

Paul Sadler Swimland has contributed 25% towards the cost of building a 25-metre, four-lane pool and a teacher's education centre while underwriting all management and running cost fees as a continuing commitment.

The partnership will also involve a teacher exchange program.

The agreement came about following a trip to Vietnam by founder Paul Sadler last February, during which he spent two weeks teaching children to swim as part of a campaign by Water Safety Vietnam.

Sadler told the Moonee Valley Weekly "survival transcends any language barrier, in a 40-minute session the children achieved so much.

"Seeing how enthusiastic the local Vietnamese kids were and how hard they tried, I was elated about their achievements and wanted to do more."

Like many south east Asian nations, Vietnam has a poor water safety record with UNESCO reporting that more than 26,000 Vietnamese children drown every year - with drowning being the leading cause of death in children over the age of one.

This month, two Swim Vietnam teachers, Vo Van Vinh and Ha Duc Minh Thao, will visit Australia to train with the Paul Sadler Swimland team and further their swim safety skills.

Paul Sadler Swimland operates at 11 locations in Victoria as well as in Queensland and Alberta, Canada.

For more information go to www.paulsadlerswimland.com

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