Vietnam Relief Services

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Let’s build a children’s community swimming pool at the Hoàng Văn Thọ School in Yen Bai, Vietnam, a province north-west of Hanoi. Why? Kids in rural Vietnam never learn how to swim. It’s getting hotter due to climate change and the only escape from the heat are local rivers, where many children drown each year. No swimming pools are available where kids can learn to swim and escape the heat in safety. The school is home to 550 kids aged 6 to 14, most from the Tày ethnic group; agriculture is the top source of income, with average pay of $6 per day.
Goals: seek permission to build a pool on school grounds (done, the principal has confirmed); confirm swim lessons will be part of the curriculum for all ages (done); identify the closest fresh water source and pipe it to the pool; construct the pool, deck and sign; identify lifeguards and swim instructors; set and communicate pool hours; grand opening. The site is currently a muddy soccer field.
Game plan: excavation and digging from 3/1/2024, rebar fabrication from 3/15/2024, concrete from 4/1/2024, ceramic tile installation from 4/15/2024, fresh water line from 5/1/2024, swim instructor and lifeguard training from 5/20/2024, grand opening 6/8/2024, open swim starts 6/15/2024.
Pool design: 14 m by 10 m, with a concrete pool deck surround, a deep end and shallow end to accommodate all ages, and full length entry and exit stairs.
How can you help? Fresh water supply line $2,500; excavation $1,000; metal fabrication $2,250; concrete, block and masonry $5,000; ceramic tile $4,000. Total $14,750. Our pools don’t need a filter: spring water replenishes them regularly. Be a sponsor: Platinum $5,000, Gold $2,000, Bronze $500.
Success story: watch as we build and launch a pool in Tuyên Quang. We built this pool last year.
Watch the video of us building last year’s pool

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