Sports

India: Women Swimming Into the Future!

Promoting well-being and strengthening confidence in women and girls
of the South-Indian Tsunami-hit region.

Although living next to the sea, many girls and women in South India do not know how to swim. OXFAM International reports that the catastrophic tsunami that affected South Asia in December 26, 2004 claimed the lives of three times as many women than men. This is because in these coastal regions, women and children often remain at home and are not expected to go out into the water.

In February 2006, with the support of the Sports Division of the Austrian Federal Chancellery, the Austrian Swimming organisation, the Austrian Youth Red Cross and the Austrian Live-saving Association, Women without Borders started a unique initiative: a 7-day swimming training course for women and children in Chennai and Mamallapuram, in the Southern coast of India.

Girls, 'future trainers' and local women from the coastal villages of the Tamil Nadu region had the chance to learn how to swim. The result was overwhelming: almost all of the girls and women where able to swim in just seven days!
Kavitha, says, "It is very important for women to have the chance and possibility to do sports, to move and to feel the body. We are not used to this, but it is so important. You feel much better."
Panja agrees, "Women and girls should know how to swim, it makes them independent and they can take care of their own lives."
Indeed, to know how to swim is not only an important skill for the future life of girls and women, but is an important tool for empowerment and strengthens group identity and solidarity - "Swim, enjoy and win!".

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