Help Empower Sri Lankan Women Through Surfing
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“Empowering women is the heart of SeaSisters Sri Lanka, creating waves of change that uplift entire communities.”
Update (December 2024): Season 7 is Here - And We Need You!
In Sri Lanka, the ocean represents freedom, strength, and possibility - but for many local women, it’s a place out of reach. At SeaSisters, we’re on a mission to change that. In December 2024, we're kicking off our biggest Swim & Surf Season yet, empowering more than 100 women to conquer waves, build confidence, and inspire their communities.
BUT WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.
Every donation helps us teach swimming and surfing, create job opportunities, foster environmental awareness, and spark real change in rural areas where women often face countless barriers.
Here’s how your support helps SeaSisters empower women and transform communities. It's more than just a contribution—it’s a chance to create lasting impact:
- Empower Women Through Employment: Your donation provides livelihood opportunities and fair salaries for local women, helping them gain essential skills, economic independence, and sustainable jobs in surf tourism. We currently employ three local women and support eight others on their journey to becoming swim and surf instructors. We also offer economic opportunities for community facilitators in roles like translating and event hosting. As we grow, we plan to extend our local team, creating new positions that will advance our mission to empower more women.
- Expand Our Swim & Surf Programs: Contributions ensure our free Swim & Surf programs remain accessible, safe, and impactful, covering costs for equipment, transportation, and pool access. With a waitlist each year, we’re expanding to six programs this season: 1) SeaSisters Juniors, 2) “Original” Swim & Surf Program, 3) Swim Academy, 4) Surf Academy, 5) Instructor training, and 6) “Discover Your Inner Surfer” Pop-ups. Your support enables us to teach more women life-saving skills, introduce them to surfing, and provide advanced training for future instructors.
- Train Local Women Leaders: Your support helps train local women from rural areas as community leaders, through capacity building, skill development, and travel opportunities. We identify and nurture women to take on leadership roles, breaking gender stereotypes and inspiring change in conservative communities. We empower SeaSisters staff with career advancement opportunities, including promotions to director-level positions. Our co-director, Kalpa Gandhari, was named one of Sri Lanka’s top 50 female change makers this year, and we hope many more will follow!
- Increase Community Outreach & Awareness: Donations fund year-round community events, workshops and educational initiatives that promote empowerment, environmental awareness, and ocean stewardship. We’ve built a community of over 100 changemakers across Sri Lanka, advocating for gender equity and environmental protection, and we plan to grow this movement across the country!
- Ensure Program Growth & Sustainability: Every contribution supports SeaSisters’ long-term impact, helping us reach more women and communities in need. Together, with your support, we can build a stronger, more resilient future for Sri Lankan women! THANK YOU!
Lots of love from Sri Lanka,
Your SeaSisters team
*** Read more about us***
Our Story: Empowering Women to Enjoy the Ocean & Follow Their Dreams!
Why did we start SeaSisters? In Sri Lanka, local women and girls are hardly seen in the ocean. While tourists come to enjoy the beautiful beaches, for many Sri Lankan women, the ocean is a place of fear and exclusion.
Sri Lanka has one of the highest drowning rates in the world: Every day, one Sri Lankan woman dies from drowning! Despite growing up on an island, most women and girls have never learned how to swim and lack vital life skills.
Furthermore, Sri Lanka has a thriving surf tourism industry, but most women are excluded from surfing’s mental and economic benefits.
This stems from traditional gender norms and cultural expectations, which have prevented the ocean from becoming an accepted space for women. Especially in rural areas, women are often confined to their homes and expected to care for their families.
We believe that the ocean is for everybody - and that swimming and surfing can serve as powerful tools for social change.
SURF. INSPIRE. EMPOWER.
Since 2018, SeaSisters has empowered Sri Lankan women and girls through free swimming and surfing lessons in a safe, all-female environment. We work with women and girls from underprivileged communities, creating access to the ocean while challenging gender norms and promoting environmental awareness.
Our programs transform lives far beyond the water. In a supportive space, women overcome fears, address trauma, and gain new skills while building lasting friendships and support networks. These experiences foster resilience, sisterhood, and the confidence to pursue their dreams - both in and out of the ocean.
Despite challenges like COVID-19 and the ongoing economic crisis, we’ve come back stronger. In December 2024, we’re launching our 7th season, expanding our swim and surf programs and creating new job opportunities.
Beyond swim and surf lessons, we host community events and workshops that educate women on health, mental well-being, and environmental sustainability.
The urgency has never been greater - the economic crisis has intensified hardships for Sri Lankan women and their families, making our programs a place of hope and joy for many.
Today, SeaSisters is proudly run by young Sri Lankan women who are leading the next generation of empowered women in their communities. With your support, we can ensure fair wages, create more livelihood opportunities, and expand our impact.
Every donation to SeaSisters creates a ripple effect, helping women gain economic independence, fostering local leadership, and empowering Sri Lanka’s future leaders.
Behind SeaSisters
Founded in November 2018 by Amanda Prifti (US) and Martina Burtscher (Austria), SeaSisters is a growing movement of ocean lovers from all over the world, stepping up for a more inclusive and responsible surf community! Our programs are proudly led by our local team - Kalpa Gandhari, Udani Hewamadduma and Sashika Lakshani - supported by an all-female team of international and local volunteers. Registered as a non-profit in Sri Lanka and Austria, SeaSisters is dedicated to creating lasting change for women and their communities.
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THANK YOU!
Share the campaign: https://gofund.me/0081ec9d
More about us: www.seasisterslk.com
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SeaSisters Sri Lanka
Organizer
Innsbruck, T
Ema Rizo Patron
Team member