A gymnastic teacher in Quang Tri Province, central Vietnam, has been offering free swimming lessons to more than 1,600 local kids for the past decade in a ‘swimming pool’ simply set up on a canal, significantly contributing to the prevention of drowning among children.

Nguyen Viet Tuoc, a physical education teacher at Hai Vinh Elementary and Middle School in the province’s low-lying Hai Lang District, has long used a section of the irrigation canal in the district as a ‘swimming pool,’ where he provides free swimming courses for the school’s students as well as other local children.

The 47-year-old teacher erected a hut along the canal bank and spent his money on equipping the makeshift swimming pool with all facilities necessary for children to practice swimming safely.

Tuoc teaches the kids swimming techniques and skills to give first aid to drowning victims.

Every summer, the teacher usually spends six hours per day in the natural swimming pool with local children.

To date, Tuoc has taught more than 1,600 children, whose parents are willing to pay the teacher, but he always turns them down politely.

“I just hope that after such swimming courses, they will be skillful in swimming to keep them safe in rivers so that there will be no more heartbroken cases of drowning among children,” Tuoc said.

“Tuoc’s teaching efforts have brought safety to thousands of students when they wade across rivers or face floods. His heart is boundless,” said Vo Van Minh, deputy director of the provincial Department of Education and Training.

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