When women are no longer left on the sidelines of sports and are empowered with life-saving water safety and survival skills, it is not only a step toward gender equality — it is also a key to building safer and more resilient communities.
To help bridge the gender gap in access to sports and essential life skills, the project “Empowering Women and Girls through Swimming”, funded by La Guilde and Decathlon Foundation, is being implemented in Hue.
As part of the project, Hue Help, in collaboration with the Hue Association for Protection of Child Rights, organized four water safety training sessions for 200 women in Thanh Thuy Ward and Quang Dien District.
Through the training sessions, participants not only gained theoretical knowledge but also practiced essential skills to protect themselves and support others in emergency situations, including:
- Identifying water-related risks and preventing drowning
- Proper use of life jackets
- Safe land-based rescue techniques
- Placing victims in the recovery position
- Performing CPR in emergency situations
The sessions were lively, practical, and highly interactive. For many women, this was the first time they had ever been given the opportunity to learn skills that are often considered inaccessible or rarely encouraged for women and girls.
One participant from Quang Dien shared:
“I never imagined I could learn these skills. Now I know how to protect myself in the water, and I feel much more confident.”
Another woman from Thanh Thuy Ward expressed:
“At my age, after many years of taking care of my family, I never thought I would have the chance to go out, learn new things, and connect with others like this.”
Many participants explained that their lives had long revolved around caring for their families and children, leaving little opportunity to participate in sports or learn survival skills. Beyond drowning prevention knowledge, the program created a meaningful space where women could build confidence, connect with others, and recognize their own strength and potential.
The project’s impact will continue to grow this summer 2026, as 300 local girls will receive survival swimming training. This initiative contributes not only to drowning prevention but also to promoting equal access to sports, life skills, and safer opportunities for girls.
A small step in training can lead to a major shift in mindset: women and girls can be strong, proactive, and safer every day — for themselves, their families, and their communities.
