<div>SeaSisters Sri Lanka is a non-profit organisation creating safe and empowering spaces for Sri Lankan women and girls to reconnect with the ocean, using swimming and surfing as tools for social change.
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<div>We offer free swim and surf programs, ocean education initiatives and community events, while creating new opportunities for Sri Lankan women to work in the country's thriving surf tourism industry. 
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<div><strong>We now need YOUR support to bring our plans to life! </strong>
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<div>Our focus of this GoFundMe-campaign lies on building strong foundations so we can continue running our programs safely and sustainably. To do this, we aim to invest into our team, infrastructure, and new income streams, ensuring we can create long-term impact.
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<div><strong>1) A SeaSisters Space:</strong> We finally need our own community space - to meet as a team, store swim and surf equipment, welcome our community and partners, and explore future opportunities. We’d also love to open a small shop and hire a local assistant, creating an empowering opportunity for a local woman to grow and build her skills.
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<div><strong>2) Strengthening local leadership: </strong>SeaSisters is now fully led by Sri Lankan women. We are onboarding new roles in program coordination, swim and surf academy facilitation, fundraising and finance - strengthening the organisation from within.
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<div><strong>3) A scooter: </strong>Renting is no longer sustainable, and we need reliable transport to move equipment and reach participants!
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<div>We aim to raise 12,000 EUR to cover:
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<li><strong>SeaSisters Space - EUR 3,500: </strong>Rent and basic setup for a shared team and community space
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<li><strong>Space &amp; shop assistance - EUR 2,000: </strong>Hiring a young local woman for one year to support in our space
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<li><strong>Team development &amp; local leadership - EUR 4,500: </strong>Supporting program coordination, fundraising and operations
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<li><strong>Transport (scooter) - EUR 2,000: </strong>Purchase, registration, and basic maintenance
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<div>This year marks a turning point for SeaSisters - and you can help us to expand our impact for many years to come!
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<div><strong>Thank you for standing with us!</strong>
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<div>***
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<div><strong>ABOUT SEA SISTERS:</strong> <strong>Empowering Women to Enjoy the Ocean &amp; Follow Their Dreams!</strong>
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<div><em>Why did we start SeaSisters? </em>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, <strong>the ocean is a place of fear and exclusion. </strong>
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<div>This stems from traditional gender norms, cultural expectations and safety concerns, which have prevented the ocean from becoming a safe and accepted space for Sri Lankan women.
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<div><strong>Sri Lanka has one of the highest drowning rates in the world: </strong>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.
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<div>Furthermore, Sri Lanka has a thriving surf tourism industry, but<strong> most women are excluded from surfing’s recreational and economic benefits. </strong>
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<div>We estimate that local women make up only 1% of surfers in Sri Lanka. Especially in rural areas, women are often confined to their homes, not being encouraged to go out and explore the sea.
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<div><strong>We believe that the ocean is for everybody - and that swimming and surfing can serve as powerful tools for social change.</strong>
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<div><strong>SURF. INSPIRE. EMPOWER.</strong>
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<div>Since 2018, SeaSisters has empowered over 500 Sri Lankan women and girls through free swim and surf lessons, community events, and educational programs. We work with women and girls from underprivileged communities, creating access to the ocean while challenging gender norms and promoting environmental awareness.
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<div>Our Swim &amp; Surf Programs transform lives far beyond the water. In a supportive, all-female 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.
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<div>Despite challenges such as the ongoing economic crisis, we have continued to run SeaSisters consistently. In December 2025, we launched our 8th season, expanding our programs and creating new opportunities.
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<div>Beyond swim and surf lessons, we host year-round community events as well as ocean education programs.
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<div>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 and create more livelihood opportunities.
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<div>Every donation to SeaSisters creates a ripple effect, helping women to gain independence, fostering local leadership, and empowering Sri Lanka’s future leaders.
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<div><strong>Behind SeaSisters</strong>
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<div>Founded in 2018, 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 and 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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<div><strong>Spread the Word!</strong>
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<div>Help us reach more people by sharing our campaign. Every share makes a difference!
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<div>THANK YOU!
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<div>Share the campaign: <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/sea-sisters-season-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/sea-sisters-season-8" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.gofundme.com/f/sea-sisters-season-8</a></a>
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<div>More about us: <a href="https://www.seasisterslk.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.seasisterslk.com</a>
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<div>Follow our journey:
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<div>Instagram : <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sea_sisters_lk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.instagram.com/sea_sisters_lk</a>
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<div>Facebook : <a href="https://www.facebook.com/seasisterslk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.facebook.com/seasisterslk</a>
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<div>Sign up for our newsletter here.
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Melanie Simons

Anonymous

Nimalka Senaratne

Kristy Mitchell

Michael Parr

Yvonne Schnelle

Olga Ziegler (Queer Tides Collective)

Clemens Makoschitz

Lille Santanen

Laura Bratisax

Jakob Glawitsch

Kyra Schumacher

SeaSisters: Help Us Build Our Future

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SeaSisters: Help Us Build Our Future

Still €10,134 to go. Help us build momentum.