AWSOM Project

Drowning takes more than 300 000 lives a year - 30 every hour - and almost a quarter of them are children under five. Globally, it is among the ten leading causes of death for children aged 5-14 years.

More than 90% of drowning deaths occur in rivers, lakes, wells, domestic water storage vessels and swimming pools in low- and middle-income countries, with children and adolescents in rural areas disproportionately affected.

The theme for World Drowning Prevention Day 2026 is “Unite to turn the tide.”

The Global Strategy for Drowning Prevention calls every sector and every level of society to one goal:

Unite to reduce drowning by 35% by 2035.

Closing the gap depends on all of us doing our part – every person, in every place, in every context.

(World Health Organisation, 2026)

This National Volunteer Week, we are celebrating the people who make our work possible and reflecting on this year's theme: Your Year to Volunteer.

The theme recognises how giving your time and talents can spark joy, strengthen communities and inspire more people to become involved 💫.

As a proudly 100% volunteer-run charity, we see the impact of volunteering every day. Because every role across our organisation is supported by volunteers, every donation goes directly towards supporting our programs and the children we work with in Vietnam.

This week we especially recognise Ms Vo Thi Tuyet, Director of Operations Vietnam, who has been volunteering with us since the very beginning in 2012. For more than a decade, her dedication, leadership and tireless commitment have helped shape our work and create safer futures for children across Vietnam.

We also thank our co-founders, Bev and Nikki, who have generously volunteered their time, passion and leadership since day one to keep our charity growing and delivering impact.

Thank you to our volunteer committee members who guide and support our organisation, our volunteer teachers and lifeguards who give their expertise so generously, our incredible volunteer translators who work tirelessly with our team and never stop smiling, and our amazing swim teachers in Vietnam who work directly with children to build lifesaving skills and confidence in the water 🙏.

Volunteering creates connection. It builds stronger communities. It changes lives.

We are inspired by every person who has chosen to give their time to our mission. You are the heart of everything we do ❤️.