*Guest blog on Xiamen Water Safety exchange by Kevin Paes, Water Safety Program Advisor for the Canadian Red Cross in Western Canada
Beginning October 20th, four Red Crossers touched down in China as part of a technical exchange between the Canadian Red Cross and the Chinese Red Cross. The goal: to train 20 new local water safety instructors and help reduce drowning deaths in that country. Kevin Paes is one of four delegates, including BC–Yukon Provincial Director Kimberley Nemrava, Water Safety Master Instructor Trainers Paula Thulin (Delta, BC) and Anne Porteous (Nanaimo, BC). In Dispatches from China, Paes shares his experiences of this unique partnership.
The candidates chosen by the Chinese Red Cross for this water safety instructor class are amazing. Three-quarters of them are teachers, and all are incredible swimmers. Every day we start at 8am and go until 6:30pm. For us delegates, we’re a little busier than we would be at home...in bed by 9:30pm and up at 5am. Our participants have their own methods of catching some shut eye. All the participants have a nap (or try to) every day at lunch. They lay in the lobby, in the classroom and in their cars. The four of us usually walk each day at lunch and it is hilarious to come back and see 12 to 15 of our students napping.
The 20 children in grade three that are participating in the program for an hour each day continue to be enthusiastic and excited to be part of the program. They have good swimming skills but no water safety knowledge. Playing games and learning water safety are new to this group but they told us that they are having a lot of fun!
Already we are working with the Xiamen Branch of the Chinese Red Cross and other local stakeholders to explore next steps and how the program could be implemented while taking the Chinese context into consideration. Some aspects of our water safety programming will be harder to implement while others may be easier than in the Canadian context.
Our hosts continue to be incredible. They are kind beyond words and so attentive to our needs. Overall I can’t say enough about how kind and warm the people are in Xiamen.