Empowering Nonprofit Makes Waves by Teaching Women and Girls To Surf in Sri Lanka

Empowering Nonprofit Makes Waves by Teaching Women and Girls To Surf in Sri Lanka For the Sri Lankan nonprofit SeaSisters, it goes without saying that surfing is for everyone. But, in Sri Lanka, local women and girls are “hardly seen in the ocean,” per the nonprofit. In fact, some have never learned how to swim, despite growing up on an island. That’s precisely why SeaSisters exists: to empower women […] READ: Empowering Nonprofit Makes Waves by Teaching Women and Girls To Surf in Sri Lanka

Art Sep 26, 2025 0 21 Add to Reading List

Empowering Nonprofit Makes Waves by Teaching Women and Girls To Surf in Sri Lanka

Photo: Siriwan Champorn

For the Sri Lankan nonprofit SeaSisters, it goes without saying that surfing is for everyone. But, in Sri Lanka, local women and girls are “hardly seen in the ocean,” per the nonprofit. In fact, some have never learned how to swim, despite growing up on an island. That’s precisely why SeaSisters exists: to empower women and girls to take up both swimming and surfing.

In 2018, Amanda Prifti and Martina Burscher crossed paths on Sri Lanka’s east coast, where they teamed up to establish the country’s first all-female surf club. It didn’t take long for the pair to found SeaSisters, which, nearly 10 years later, is now led by local women on the ground. Today, the nonprofit advocates not only for greater inclusivity in and access to the ocean and surfing, but also for challenging attitudes toward gender norms.

“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 organization writes.

For Sanu, one of the many participants in SeaSisters, surfing not only offered her a physical outlet, but a “home,” one where her confidence was boosted and her perspectives enriched. In the ocean, she could fully embrace her passion for the sport, without barriers as a result of her gender. There, bobbing alongside the waves, she says she feels free, and like she’s finally able to hear her own voice.

“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.”

Aside from fostering a sense of community and resilience, SeaSisters also equips its participants with a critical skill: swimming. Sri Lanka has one of the highest drowning rates in the world, and, due to limited access and gendered expectations, many Sri Lankan women don’t ever learn how to swim. Dilini was one such girl, admitting she was really afraid of the sea before joining SeaSisters. Now, she’s a member of the SeaSisters Surf Academy and has grown into a passionate surf photographer.

“Growing up in Sri Lanka, the ocean was always there, but never truly for us,” Himaya, a participant in SeaSisters sixth season, explained in a video. “SeaSisters changed my whole life. I learned how to swim and surf, and today I also teach others.”

Since its founding, SeaSisters has brought in more than 180 swim and surf participants and welcomed 90 volunteers from over 20 countries. All of its skill development programs are free, and community events dedicated to mental health, sustainability, beach clean-ups, feminism, and more are also offered free-of-charge.

As Amzhi, another SeaSisters participant, believes: “If boys can surf, why can’t we?”

To learn more about the nonprofit and its vital mission, visit the SeaSisters website.