*Guest blog by Kevin Paes, Water Safety Program Advisor for the Canadian Red Cross in Western Canada
The proceeding is the final instalment in a four-part blog focusing on a water safety 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 Canadian delegates.
The final days of training have been rewarding for student and teacher alike.
On our second last day of training, the children from grade three joined us for the last time. We set up fun, interactive water safety stations for them. At the end of the lesson we had each instructor present each child with a foam hand. On one side we glued a thank you note from the Canadian and Chinese Red Cross. On the other, each instructor wrote a personal note. We added a goodie bag including a pin from the Canadian Red Cross and another from the City of Delta, as well as some fun Canadian souvenirs (a pencil, some tattoos, and some Canadian flag stickers). The kids went wild. They were so excited that it took 30 minutes of photos and another 10 minutes of good-byes before the kids left the building.
We woke on the final day of training with heavy hearts. The day went well. As we completed individual evaluations on each instructor it was clear that our injury prevention message was not only understood but thoroughly endorsed by the instructors. All had plans to incorporate these new lessons into their current classes. We made an impact!
Our day ended with many a heartfelt, tearful goodbye. We cried, we laughed, but mostly we connected with the instructors on a completely different level...no translators...much camaraderie.
Our final work assignment involved a last meeting with all the stakeholders to review the success of the training. We were pleased when a principal and teacher revealed their students had raved about the class. It was reiterated to us that one child hated swimming lessons, until he participated in our training. Now he’s excited for more. Other children told their teacher that they had learned so much about water safety …including the importance of swimming with a buddy …that they would never swim without a buddy again. That was a teary moment for us—realizing that we’ve gotten through to these kids.
After a few days of touring, it’s now time for us to go home. I am sure our departure will be emotional for all of us but we can rest easily knowing that we have made a difference here, and built relationships of good will that will make both Red Cross societies stronger as a result. Good-bye from China.