![A child plays by the water in Bangladesh](/-/media/rnli/thumbnails/there-are-thousands-of-similar-stories-16x9.jpg?rev=53bfb880bf404630b9d93ad5641622ad&w=292&h=164&hash=61350C311B8D1A653336D77AE632EBE0)
![Faisal (11) and Jamal (18) fish on the floodwaters after a monsoon. Cox s Bazar. Bangladesh. One inch of water international project.](/-/media/rnli/images/what-we-do/international/li48176faisal_11_and_jamal_1500x844.jpg?rev=fd63c7d6f3ef45079e7cbca04571534b&w=1500&h=844&hash=E3C781567C6E3532CCFC9ED2E7E9121B)
Our international work
Every other minute, someone in the world drowns. These are wasted lives. Preventable deaths.
Drowning is a silent epidemic that claims an estimated 235,000 lives every year, many of them children. But this leading killer isn’t getting the global attention it deserves.
The RNLI is working with global leaders, public health organisations and at-risk communities to help turn the tide. We want to make drowning prevention a priority worldwide and reduce this staggering loss of life.
By raising awareness, conducting research and testing interventions, we can make a difference together.
The global drowning problem
Drowning is a huge problem internationally. In many parts of Asia, it is the leading killer of children over the age of 1. But the scale of the problem is not getting the attention that it needs.
Lifesaving interventions
Anyone can drown. No one should. We won’t stand by while anyone, anywhere, drowns. The RNLI’s international work is a small, but important, part of what we do.
Working with our international partners and leaders, we’re helping communities most at risk of drowning with tailored, targeted interventions that will help stop these preventable deaths.
![Reflections, brother and sister, Reshma (8) and Ridoy (9) are fishing on floodwaters in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh after a monsoon.](/-/media/rnli/images/what-we-do/reflections_1500x844.jpg?rev=02d95c49236747c3806617c58e354d85&w=1500&h=844&hash=C40E7E36C78C10E14A6B260D83F4ADF0)
The history of our international lifesaving work
International resources
From community first aid guides to documents to help set up your own beach lifeguard service, you can make a difference in your community with these materials. Designed by the RNLI’s water safety experts, these resources can help you tackle the drowning problem.
![Nuri (7) and Tumpa(8) going back from their school. The whole village submerges by flood water. Cox s Bazar. Bangladesh. One inch of water international project.](/-/media/rnli/images/what-we-do/international/li48185nuri_and_tumpa_1500x844.jpg?rev=c0494d5d43aa4527abf86bbc76b2a3aa&w=1500&h=844&hash=BDFC6D6793BC7C6EAF0BBDBB5468A844)
Donate to end global drowning
Explore our international work
![A child plays by the water in Bangladesh](/-/media/rnli/thumbnails/there-are-thousands-of-similar-stories-16x9.jpg?rev=53bfb880bf404630b9d93ad5641622ad&w=292&h=164&hash=61350C311B8D1A653336D77AE632EBE0)
![An Aquatic Survival trainer teaches children in the sea on Zanzibar](/-/media/rnli/images/what-we-do/38591-mike-lavis-16x9.jpg?rev=dbad6a741105432ca55774366255d706&w=292&h=164&hash=8176C6489F0770C3BA5803ECC74F03B0)
![A lifeguard teaching water safety to a class of girls in Bangladesh](/-/media/rnli/images/what-we-do/6755-water-safety-class-bangladesh-mike-lavis-16x9-72dpi.jpg?rev=7ad77260911a4cd2af1ea7c24adab5ce&w=292&h=164&hash=CFC3A1A592C4ED4006328B1BA348EA1E)
![Swimming lessons being taught in Bangladesh by our partner](/-/media/rnli/images/what-we-do/child_training_1500x844.jpg?rev=35c1470a0ee94d4cb83f79196db8ebb7&w=292&h=164&hash=47032734DDA9F953BB58AEDCB46152E4)
![A young boy plays with a wheel in front of a body of water at dusk in rural Bangladesh](/-/media/rnli/images/what-we-do/international/rnli_barishal2_smaller_1500x844.jpg?rev=f663d9b97e654528a908fdba40cd3d84&w=292&h=164&hash=102B74C5B796BDA7646248B1996FD385)
![Reflections, brother and sister, Reshma (8) and Ridoy (9) are fishing on floodwaters in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh after a monsoon.](/-/media/rnli/images/what-we-do/reflections_1500x844.jpg?rev=02d95c49236747c3806617c58e354d85&w=292&h=164&hash=6F122017CF5B0519EE1CEB9F2F1EBF00)
![Swimming lessons taking place in Tanzania by our partner](/-/media/rnli/images/what-we-do/miza_makame_silima_teaching_swimming_at_mkokotomi_zanzibar.jpg?rev=92ff2f5f96a341ff81e2c93e5f4e4385&w=292&h=164&hash=A6DA61CC36ADD1F37B952F4410E953B4)
![A child learning to swim in the sea on Zanzibar](/-/media/rnli/images/what-we-do/38577-mike-lavis-16x9.jpg?rev=7ab3227ec2524ac8ba96d62575a9f407&w=292&h=164&hash=349BAFD19486BE6CF478A60320796D7C)