A few days ago, I returned from Sri Lanka where I gave a special course - "The power of water - Water as a Medium for Empowering Women and Promoting Quality of Life".

 

This course was dedicated to women in order to provide them with the tools to become swimming instructors among local populations.

 

Sri Lanka is an island with many water resources - lakes, rivers, water reservoirs and, of course, the sea. In many parts of the island, much of life is still based on the natural sources of water (e.g. bathing, washing, washing dishes, fruits and vegetables).

The women who are responsible for these roles cannot swim and avoid going into the water other than dipping their feet. Moreover, the inability to swim has resulted in many deaths through drowning and a generational fear of water.

 

The purpose of this special course was to meet several needs:

• Women empowerment - providing tools for these women to become leaders in their society through training in water safety, enjoyment, and swimming. During the course, the women were trained to be instructors in the Halliwick® approach, basic swimming instruction and water relaxation. These trainings will enable them to promote water skills acquisition among the populations in their places of residence and to become social leaders while providing an answer to the existential need in the daily life of the community.

• Promoting quality of life for these women by acquiring a profession and respect.

• Promoting the water independence and swimming among the entire population, thereby reducing the number of drownings in the country.

 

The course focused on women because of their special position in society – it is they, who are at home and are responsible for the process of caring for children and their education.

 

Sixteen women from all over Sri Lanka were invited to the course. Emphasis was placed on recruiting women from peripheral areas where access to swimming pools is limited, and the experience of recreation, play and swimming is limited to lakes, rivers or reservoirs.

 

The course was initiated and promoted by Azira, an amazing and visionary woman from Colombo, who, among other things, volunteers as a swimming instructor.

 For years, Azira has been dreaming of promoting swimming for the entire island population and reducing fear and superstition around swimming in water.

 

The leaders of Sri Lanka's Life Saving organization also partnered in the program. They deeply understood the importance of training swimming instructors as a way to prevent drowning.

 

Together they raised an amazing course - the 16 women who took the course received it for free! -

• The organizers provided them with accommodation, meals, transportation and support including translation for the entire 7 days of the course.

• The pools and classrooms were donated by various organizations that joined Azira's enthusiasm and determination.

 

The course was based entirely on the desire to share and enrich knowledge.

 

The learning process was complex - in an improvised classroom, with 38 degrees and 80 percent humidity and in an open swimming pool. Some women did not know how to swim and were never in a pool before. A  three-language learning process in English, Sinhalese and Tamil was conducted.  None of these factors prevented us from succeeding, enjoying and winning.

 

For some of the women participating in the course it was a unique experience - some never left their surroundings, most of them left little children at home, and the communication between them was not easy, since each region speaks in a different language. At the same time, they have had a once in a lifetime experience - a week entirely dedicated to them, only they were important- all week they were surrounded by people who took care of all their needs and accompanied and supported them throughout the process.

 

The women were highly motivated to succeed. They did not lose a minute of study, asked many questions and did not break, even though they met many of the theoretical and practical lessons for the first time in their lives.

We ended the course with all women being able to swim backstroke and Freestyle!!!  All had the ability to prepare an activity plan and write it in an organized manner, and most importantly, did it with a great sense of joy.

I am happy that I was privileged to participate in such a course and to be part of its development and implementation.

 

I have never experienced such strong women who overcame all the hardships and fears along with so many people that everything that leads them in life is the desire to give, promote and contribute without any financial compensation.

Special people.

 

I had a life-changing experience.

 

Thank you Azira, and the leaders of Sri Lanka's Life Saving organization, for the opportunity, you have given me to be part of this amazing project.

 

Thank you, a wonderful group of women for opening your hearts, sharing your feelings with me and showing that with will, love and joy you can succeed in everything.