About
Drowning is the leading cause of death for Thai children aged 1 to 14 (WHO). The Thai Ministry of Public Health counts more than 1,300 children drowned a year. About 20–25% of Thai children can swim, and fewer of the children in this program.
Since August 2016 the Chiang Mai International Rotary Club (CMIRC) has taught every 4th-grade class at Chiang Mai's 11 municipal schools and Wat Suan Dok School. Phrao, north of the city, joined with the Warm Heart Foundation. About 750 children a year.
Each class: 15 hours over 10 sessions, 10 in the pool and 5 at the poolside, on the Royal Life Saving Society of the Commonwealth curriculum. Kru Payu Swim instructors teach at Bronco Kids Sport Club in Chiang Mai; a Phrao team Kru Payu trained teaches in Phrao. Each child gets a swimsuit, cap, goggles and a towel.
2025: Chiang Mai 391 children, 342 passed the final swim test (88%). Phrao 347 children in 19 schools, 84% passed. Of the children who came to every session, about 95% passed. Many who did not finish missed lessons over head lice or had no parental permission, so the 2026 cartoon is about lice.
A classroom course in Chiang Mai costs ฿23,500: ฿9,500 for the pool, ฿14,000 for four or five instructors. About ฿1,000 a child. Give by bank transfer through cmirotary.org/donate, then e-mail the treasurer the details so CMIRC can name you as the donor.
Projects
In their words
After 10 years we can now say almost every child who graduates from a municipal school in Chiang Mai City or the Wat Suan Dok School has had our 15-hour survival swimming and water safety course.
Please note that many students did not complete the course because of head lice problems or lack of parental permission. Of those who attended all sessions, about 95% passed.
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Video
Places
- Wat Gu Kam Municipal SchoolPin at Wat Gu Kam
On the map - Wat Pa Phaeng Municipal School
On the map - Wat Tasadoi Municipal School
On the map - Dok Ngern Municipal School
On the map - Wat Chiang Yuen Municipal School
On the map - Wat Sri Donchai Municipal School
On the map - Wat Muen Ngern Gong Municipal School
On the map - Wat Puak Chang Municipal SchoolPin at Wat Puak Chang
On the map - Wat Sri Ping Muang Municipal SchoolPin at Wat Sri Ping Muang
On the map - Wat Sri Suphan Municipal School
On the map - Wat Ket Karam Municipal SchoolPin at Wat Ket Karam
On the map - Wat Suan Dok SchoolNot a municipal school; in the program with Rotary Club Chiang Mai-Wattana. 2025: 53 children, 48 passed.
On the map - Phrao: 19 schoolsPin at Phrao town, north of Chiang Mai. 19 elementary schools, with the Warm Heart Foundation.
On the map