Drowning is the leading cause of death for Cambodian children, a tragedy that could often be prevented through simple education programs. Recent high-profile incidents, such as the drowning of three young friends in a Kandal province pond and a young girl’s death in a public pool in Phnom Penh, have brought attention to this issue. However, these cases represent only a small fraction of the estimated 2,000 child drownings that occur annually in Cambodia.
To address this crisis, Hile Teuk Kampuchea (HTK), which translates to “Swim Cambodia” in Khmer, was established in 2023. HTK’s mission is to reduce child drowning and related injuries through water safety education and survival swimming training. The organization builds upon the work of a UK charity, SWIM (Safety When It Matters) Cambodia, which has been active in the country since 2015.
Thursday 25th July is World Drowning Prevention Day and I sat down with Sarath Tek, the Executive Director of HTK to discuss the organization’s crucial work in keeping children safe and their plans for expanding their life-saving activities throughout Cambodia.
Why is the work you do so important:
The child drowning situation in Cambodia is critical. It’s estimated that over 2,000 Cambodian children drown each year, with an average of five to six children losing their lives daily. These figures are estimates – we believe the real figures may be much higher. Cambodia ranks 12th globally for total drowning deaths, which is particularly alarming given our relatively small population of 17 million. This issue significantly impacts communities, causing immense grief and loss to families across the country.
It is also important to remember that when we talk about drowning, it doesn’t only refer to deaths. The process of drowning means someone struggles in the water and then loses their oxygen supply. There are three possible outcomes.
Some people drown, some people survive unharmed and some people suffer serious brain injuries or mental health issues after being starved of oxygen.
These latter factors are far more common than most people realise.
What is HTK’s Mission and Vision:
HTK, which means “Swim Cambodia” in Khmer, was formed in 2023 to deliver the programs of SWIM Cambodia, which began in 2015. Our vision is to reduce child drowning and related injuries through water safety education and survival swimming training. The foundation was inspired by the tragic drowning of a 10-year-old child in 2005, which moved SWIM Cambodia’s founder, Conrad Foote, to action.
Our mission is to educate people on water safety, drowning prevention, safe rescue techniques, CPR, and swimming skills. We employ strategies such as classroom-based education, practical CPR training, and plans for survival swimming courses.
Tell me about your Education Programs:
HTK has had 19 volunteers since we started and we offer classroom-based drowning awareness, water safety education, safe rescue techniques, and CPR training. We use CPR mannequins to provide hands-on training. These programs aim to prevent drownings by equipping children and adults with essential knowledge and skills to recognize and respond to water-related dangers.
We’ve trained 32 instructors, whom we call “water safety heroes,” including 24 women. These volunteers have shared water safety knowledge with an estimated 688 children so far, as well as teachers, parents and community members.
How does HTK engage with the local community:
We engage with local communities through our trained volunteers and by partnering with local schools. We’ve secured an agreement with the Siem Reap provincial Department of Education Youth & Sport to deliver drowning prevention education in schools.
While it’s too early to provide concrete statistics on our impact, as we’ve only been operating for about six months, we’re seeing knowledge spread exponentially through our trained volunteers and the children they educate.
What are the challenges HTK faces?
One of our main challenges is securing funding to expand our programs nationwide. We’re working on raising awareness about the importance of our work to attract more support. Another challenge is the lack of a specific water safety curriculum in schools, which we’re addressing through our partnerships with education departments.
We have a partnership with the Siem Reap provincial Department of Education Youth & Sport, which allows us to work with local schools. We also receive technical support from our parent organization, SWIM Cambodia. These collaborations help us reach more children and integrate our programs into existing educational structures.
What are your future plans and goals?
Our goal is to expand nationwide and reach as many children as possible. We plan to introduce survival swimming courses once we secure sufficient funding. To support our mission, individuals and organizations can help by spreading awareness about drowning prevention, volunteering, or providing financial support to expand our programs.
What is your personal motivation and insights?
As Executive Director, I’m motivated by the preventable nature of these tragedies. The story of one of our trainers, whose 8-year-old son saved his 3-year-old brother from drowning, reinforces the importance of our work. It shows that even young children can save lives when properly educated.
My message to the Cambodian community is that drowning prevention through education is a cost-effective and impactful way to save lives. It’s crucial that we prioritize water safety education, not just in Cambodia, but worldwide, to prevent these unnecessary losses of young lives.
