'AWSOM' charity project
Australian Water Safety on the Mekong Project
Reducing drowning through the teaching of swimming and water safety
What is the AWSOM Project?
Thirty two children drown every day in Vietnam (RLSWA). The Australian Water Safety on the Mekong (AWSOM) Project was launched in 2012 as a result of a successful volunteer tour to Vietnam in January 2012.
A group of dedicated teachers from the Beatty Park Swim School travel to Vietnam on an annual basis to run swimming and water safety clinics for disadvantaged, disabled and orphaned village children along the Mekong River.
In an effort to make the project sustainable we provide training and professional development workshops while in Vietnam as well as a scholarship program for Vietnamese swimming teachers to travel to Australia for training and experience.
The AWSOM Project is a small charity based in Perth, Australia (Charitable License 21613) and it is operated independently to Beatty Park and run by volunteers who are all Beatty Park Swim School staff.
The Tien Giang Provincial Government has requested our ongoing assistance with the enormous task of ensuring the children in the region are provided with essential water safety skills and education.
Find out more
To find out more about the AWSOM project, check out these short videos here and here, produced by former staff member Alex Haygarth.
How you can help
The AWSOM project is largely self-funded and relies on the generosity of the public through monetary or in-kind donations.
The project is currently seeking sponsorship for:
- Uniforms for our team
- Goggles for the children participating in the clinics
- Sponsor a child in our Disability Sponsorship Program here