IN SRI LANKA, AN EMPOWERING NONPROFIT MAKES A BIG IMPACT BY TEACHING WOMEN AND GIRLS TO SURF
For the Sri Lankan nonprofit SeaSisters, it goes without saying that surfing is for everyone. However, according to the organisation, native women and girls are "hardly seen in the ocean" in Sri Lanka. Even though they were raised on an island, some people have never learned to swim. SeaSisters were established specifically to encourage women and girls to learn to swim and surf.
When Amanda Prifti and Martina Burscher met in 2018 on the east coast of Sri Lanka, they formed the nation's first all-female surf club. The two quickly founded SeaSisters, which is being run by local women on the ground almost ten years later. The foundation now promotes attitudes against gender norms in addition to increased access to and inclusivity in the ocean and surfing.
“Particularly in rural areas, women are expected to stay at home and take care of their families, often excluding them from the recreational and economic opportunities of surf tourism,” the organisation writes.
Sanu, one of the numerous SeaSisters members, found that surfing provided her with a "home," where her viewpoints were broadened and her confidence was increased, in addition to a physical outlet. Because of her gender, she was able to completely enjoy her love of the sport in the ocean. She claims that she feels liberated and that she can now hear her own voice as she bobbles with the waves.
“Growing up, I have never seen a local girl surfing,” Sanu shares in a documentary produced by the Los Angeles Times. “It’s hard to believe what you don’t see.”
In addition to building resilience and a sense of community, SeaSisters gives its members a vital life skill: swimming. Many Sri Lankan women never learn to swim because of gendered expectations and limited access, and the country has one of the highest drowning rates in the world. One such girl was Dilini, who acknowledged that before joining SeaSisters, she had a severe fear of the sea. She has developed into an enthusiastic surf photographer and is currently a member of the SeaSisters Surf Academy.
The sixth-season SeaSisters contestant Himaya said in a video, "The water was always there, but never genuinely for us, growing up in Sri Lanka." "My entire life was transformed by SeaSisters." I became proficient in surfing and swimming, and I now instruct others.
Since its inception, SeaSisters has welcomed 90 volunteers from more than 20 countries and brought in over 180 swim and surf participants. Its skill-building programs are all free, and it also hosts free community activities on topics like feminism, sustainability, mental health, and beach clean-ups.
As Amzhi, another SeaSisters participant, believes: “If boys can surf, why can’t we?”