Welcome to Hile Teuk Kampuchea
Hile Teuk Kampuchea (HTK) is Cambodian Charity that focuses on drowning prevention by helping Cambodians learn to swim. HTK undertakes Volunteer Training to prevent and stop drowning. HTK also runs Community Help and Water Safety Programs in Cambodia.
Who We Are
First group of volunteer trainers 2024
Hile Tek Kampuchea (HTK) was established and registered as a charity NGO in September of 2022 with Ms Sarath Tek was engaged as our first Executive Director starting in December of 2023.
Hile Teuk Kampuchea (HTK), which translates to “Swim Cambodia” in Khmer and its 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.
We are a dedicated non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on reducing child drowning and related injuries in Cambodia. HTK aims to create a safer environment for children through comprehensive water safety education and practical interventions as drowning is the leading cause of death for Cambodian children, a tragedy that could often be prevented through simple education programs.
SWIM Cambodia has been working hard to develop a local drowning prevention partnership. And believe that this collaboration with HTK will be strong and effective in keeping children safe against drowning all over Cambodia.
Developing local leadership and a sustainable partnership through HTK will be effective in securing greater impact for the delivery of drowning prevention interventions.
OUR VALUES
Safety
Prioritizing the safety and well-being of children and communities through effective drowning prevention measures.
Education
Empowering individuals with knowledge and skills to prevent drowning incidents.
Community
Collaborating with local communities to raise awareness and implement sustainable water safety practices
Innovation
Continuously seeking innovative approaches and best practices to enhance our programs and impact.
Inclusivity
Ensuring that our programs are accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status.
WHAT WE DO
CPR training for parent group
Our vision is for every child in Cambodia to live safely from drowning and have water safety skills to help themselves and others in and around the water.
HTK deliver water safety, rescue, survival swimming skills and CPR education to children, parents and carers and work to gain agreement with government ministries and local authorities with the aim of integrating drowning prevention interventions into the Cambodian school curriculum.
We provide training and opportunities to school teachers as water safety educators to deliver in classroom-based water safety education including CPR and safe rescue techniques. Additionally, we train interested people to become swimming and water safety teachers who will provide survival swimming courses to children and adults.
Our programs aim to prevent drownings by equipping children and adults with essential knowledge and skills to recognize and respond to water-related dangers.
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.
Why We Do It
Child drowning is a significant public health issue in Cambodia, with approximately 2,000 children dying from drowning each year. This translates to about six children dying every day, or one child every four hours. Drowning is the leading cause of death among Cambodian children aged 1 to 17 years, with a rate of 35 per 100,000 population. These figures are estimates – we believe the real figures may be much higher.
The high prevalence of water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, and ponds, combined with seasonal flooding, increases the risk of drowning, particularly in rural areas where access to water safety education and swimming skills is limited.
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. This is also far more common than most people realise.
There is no specific or standard curriculum that teaches water safety in Cambodia. The main thing is to educate children about the dangers of water and that they need to respect it. They love to play in water and don’t realise the danger they might be in.
Education is cheap, and once someone has the knowledge they need they can share it with others, whether it is kids sharing with other kids or whoever.
Learning about lifejackets PFD’s
Why Work With Us?
Volunteer trainers at water safety course for primary school teachers July 2024
Hile Tek Kampuchea (HTK) was established and registered as a charity NGO in September of 2022 with Ms Sarath Tek was engaged as our first Executive Director starting in December of 2023.
Hile Teuk Kampuchea (HTK), which translates to “Swim Cambodia” in Khmer and its 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.
We are a dedicated non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on reducing child drowning and related injuries in Cambodia. HTK aims to create a safer environment for children through comprehensive water safety education and practical interventions as drowning is the leading cause of death for Cambodian children, a tragedy that could often be prevented through simple education programs.
SWIM Cambodia has been working hard to develop a local drowning prevention partnership. And believe that this collaboration with HTK will be strong and effective in keeping children safe against drowning all over Cambodia.
Developing local leadership and a sustainable partnership through HTK will be effective in securing greater impact for the delivery of drowning prevention interventions.
Our Partners and Supporters
SWIM Cambodia started in 2015, with seven volunteers trained to deliver water safety and CPR lessons to children. SWIM Cambodia and Hile Teuk Kampuchea are different organisations. Since HTK began, it has received technical support from its parent organisation, but is responsible for delivering education
Water Skills For Life
Waterskills for Life has established support for HTK by setting up aMemorandum of Understanding and a Developing Country Fund in Australia (tax deductible donations for Australian tax payers) and we look forward to helping them to develop their programs and assist financially into the future.
Bambujaya International School
Hile Teuk Kampuchea (HTK) has been fortunate to receive generous support from Bambujaya International School in Siem Reap. The school has provided HTK with free office space and access to office facilities, allowing HTK to efficiently manage its operations.
Additionally, HTK has been granted access to Bambujaya's grounds and pool, which are crucial for conducting training sessions and meetings related to its drowning prevention programs. The staff at Bambujaya have been extremely welcoming and supportive, fostering a collaborative atmosphere that enhances HTK's ability to deliver its community-based water safety initiatives effectively.
This collaboration not only benefits HTK but also aligns with Bambujaya's commitment to community engagement and holistic education, creating a mutually beneficial relationship that supports both organizations' missions in Siem Reap.
Siem Reap provincial Department of Education Youth & Sport
HTK have a partnership with the department, which allows us to work with local schools.
Hile Teuk Kampuchea
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