Because it is reasonable and logical!

These past few days, the children in the village have been calling each other to go to the commune center to register for swimming lessons. Strange. Strange because up until now, no one in the village has ever gone to swimming lessons. In the dry season as well as the rainy season, the children have been diving all the time in that stream. The adults have also learned to swim thanks to the stream, kicking their feet and waving their arms to stay afloat on the water. So, is registering for swimming lessons really a waste of time and money?

Youth Union organizes swimming lessons for children. Photo: Archive

“That’s not true, sir,” a young man explained. “Let me tell you, around our village there are many streams, the children on summer vacation have no place to study, no place to play, so they often find them. Of ten children, maybe only a few know how to swim, especially the girls and those who are only 6-7 years old. They also love to play, love to bathe, and just a little carelessness can cause them to be swept away. This season the water is still shallow, but next season the stream is big, if adults don’t pay attention, it will be very dangerous, sir! In previous years, there have been many cases of people in our village almost drowning. I agree with you that up to now, the people in our village have mainly learned to swim by themselves, without any teachers, but we really don’t know how to swim properly, how to swim without getting exhausted, without getting cramps in the limbs. Not to mention the women, mothers and daughters in our village who don’t know how to swim. When they see someone drowning, they just stand on the shore and scream.

This year, at the beginning of summer, many places have had tragic drowning incidents. Most of the drowning deaths were children. Recently, the newspaper reported that a police officer died of exhaustion after saving a drowning person. Knowing how to swim is still pitiful, not knowing how to swim is even more worrying.

“I’ll tell you again so you guys understand,” the young man happily added, “This swimming class is organized by the union members and youth of the commune and district, and is completely free. According to the schedule, the family members just bring the kids to the commune to be instructed by the older brothers and sisters. Not only do they learn swimming skills, they are also taught many interesting things. For example, survival skills alone, how to escape natural disasters, how to identify poisonous plants, environmental protection actions, personal health care… There are many interesting things, sir!”

Yes! Everyone understands what the young man said. Because it's so reasonable and logical!