Now in its ninth year, the Chiang Mai International Rotary Club’s (CMIRC) Children's Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Program (CWSDPP) is CMIRC’s longest-running initiative. Since its inception, CWSDPP has provided essential survival swimming and water safety training to more than 4,000 fourth-grade students in Chiang Mai, Phrao, and Phuket. With drowning being the leading cause of death for children aged 1-14 in Thailand, claiming between 1,000 and 1,500 young lives each year, CWSDPP is helping to address this critical issue through a curriculum developed by the Royal Life Saving Society of the Commonwealth.
Our program delivers 15 hours of instruction to all fourth-graders across 11 Chiang Mai Municipal Schools, Wat Suan Dok School, and 12 schools in Phrao, reaching over 600 children annually. Classes in Chiang Mai are led by certified Kru Payu Swim instructors, while the Phrao program is managed by the Warm Heart Foundation and taught by trained local instructors. All instructors receive international training from volunteer teams from Swim Australia, with lead instructors holding international certifications.
CWSDPP’s success has also inspired similar programs initiated by Rotary Clubs in Patong Beach and Hua Hin, with efforts underway to expand to Lamphun and Chiang Rai in Northern Thailand.
This year, we have completed the Phrao program, teaching over 300 fourth-grade students across 12 schools. In Chiang Mai, we have reached 7 of the 12 schools planned for this year. Thanks to access to a heated pool, we are able to continue lessons even as temperatures cool.
This life-saving program would not be possible without the full support of the Chiang Mai Municipal Schools, Phrao Schools, and the commitment of Kru Payu Swim, Bronco Kids Sport Club, and the Warm Heart Foundation.
Over the years, CWSDPP has received generous support from sponsors, including Safe Child Thailand, The British Community in Thailand Foundation for the Needy, the Australian Embassy, and the Rotary Club of Seattle 4. Currently, funding comes from the Chiang Mai Rotary Club Foundation and two anonymous private donors. As funds remain limited, we continue to seek additional support from international Rotary Clubs and private donors to sustain and expand our reach for next year.
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