Mitrade Foundation Partners with Swim for Life Vietnam to Protect Children from Drowning
On 9 October 2026, representatives from Mitrade Foundation joined Swim for Life Vietnam and local communities to launch a new drowning prevention project in Quang Tri. The ceremonies took place in two communes, Dong Trach and Vinh Thuy, and brought together approximately 1,300 people.
In Vietnam, an average of five to six children drown every day, with drowning accounting for more than half of all accidental deaths among children. Many of these tragedies happen close to home, in the rivers, ponds and streams that are part of their everyday surroundings.
In Quang Tri, the province's rivers, flood-prone terrain and seasonal storms expose children to water-related risks throughout the year. Yet drowning is preventable. Equipping children with the knowledge and skills to stay safe around water can make a life-saving difference.
That is why Mitrade Foundation is supporting Swim for Life Vietnam, a programme dedicated to preventing child drowning through water safety education, swimming instruction and community engagement.
Turning Water Safety Education into Measurable Impact
Golden West Humanitarian Foundation established Swim for Life Vietnam in 2014, after its research found that drowning was one of the leading threats to children's lives in central Vietnam. Since then, the programme has worked alongside schools, families and local authorities to equip children with the skills and knowledge to stay safe around water.
Its work in Quang Tri has made a real difference. In 2021, five children drowned in the project areas. By 2025, that number had fallen to zero. Swimming proficiency has also improved, with three in four students in participating schools now able to swim, compared with fewer than one in three students in other schools.
Our contribution supports this work over the coming year. 50 teachers will be trained to deliver water safety lessons, which will reach around 1,500 children across schools in Quang Tri. Students will also receive life jackets and floating backpacks, and warning signs will be installed at high-risk water sites.
Launching the Project in Quang Tri
The project launch brought these efforts directly to the communities they are designed to protect.
In the morning, nearly 600 students, teachers, parents and local officials gathered in Dong Trach for the demonstrations and activities led by Swim for Life's instructors. Students learnt how to spot water-related hazards and respond to dangerous situations, before putting their knowledge into practice through hands-on exercises and drowning prevention games. By the end of the morning, Mitrade Foundation representatives had helped distribute 200 life jackets to students.
In the afternoon, our team travelled to Vinh Thuy Secondary School, where more than 700 people gathered for the ceremony. The students took part in the same demonstrations and practice exercises, reinforcing the importance of recognising risks and knowing how to respond around water. A further 100 students received floating backpacks, school bags that double as flotation aids in an emergency.
Beyond the activities and equipment distributed on the day, the ceremonies reinforced the importance of sustained community involvement. At both ceremonies, local authorities expressed their appreciation for Mitrade Foundation's support and pledged to continue their efforts to prevent child drowning.
Keeping Children Safe Around Water
Water safety is about more than knowing how to swim. It is about helping children recognise danger, understand their limits and know what to do in an emergency. It also requires schools, families and communities to work together to create safer environments.
Over the coming year, the project will bring these essential skills to more children across Quang Tri, while equipping teachers and communities with the knowledge and resources to sustain drowning prevention efforts.
Mitrade Foundation is proud to support Swim for Life Vietnam in this important work. By making water safety education more accessible, we hope to contribute to a future where fewer families experience the devastating loss of a child to drowning.