Manx government money is to be spent helping children in Bangladesh to learn to swim.

The RNLI has been given £57,855 from the Isle of Man’s international development budget to give lessons to 10,000 girls and boys aged six to 10 in rural Bangladesh.

The RNLI’s partner, CIPRB (Centre for Injury Prevention and Research), will train 100 young people as swimming instructors and deliver the lessons to children in 65 rural communities.

Every day in Bangladesh 40 children die from drowning.

The funding will go to the Barisal area, where drowning rates are three times the national average so the programme will make a huge difference and significantly reduce the risk of children drowning in the local area.

Steve Wills, head of international programmes at the RNLI, said: ’We are thrilled to have secured this funding from the Isle of Man Government. The money will make a significant impact and not only train young people as swimming instructors but deliver life saving lessons to 10,000 girls and boys in rural Bangladesh.

’We know that delivering this training will reduce drowning rates for those that graduate the course by 96%, compared to those who don’t take part. This is the first time the RNLI has received funding from the Isle of Man’s development budget and we are proud to receive their support for our international work.’

Dr Allinson MHK, who is a member of the government’s Cabinet Office, said: ’The people of the Isle of Man are justly proud of the RNLI’s beginnings on the island almost two centuries ago. To this day, the RNLI remains an important part of the fabric of our community.

’The RNLI has grown to become a global leader in efforts to prevent drowning. This funding from the people of the Isle of Man has the potential to save the lives of thousands of children in Bangladesh and I commend the RNLI on its continuing efforts to reduce easily avoidable drowning through simple and effective education.’

Bangladesh has 700 rivers and around 5,000 miles of inland waterways, with the vast majority of land less than 10 metres above sea level.

These extensive bodies of water mean children are always only steps away from danger, most drownings occur within 20m of the home