We raise funds for creative programs that help to end violence against women. Swim with us, swim to What is Swimmin for Women’? Who can swim? How do I raise money?
a daily basis in every country of the world, society will never reach its full potential. Any woman, man or child who might feel helpless in the face of such tragedies but who also understands the power of collective effort and how it can make a difference. When does Swimmin’ for Women take place? There are four possible dates -swimmers can choose one, two, three or all four:
March 8: International Women’s Day
July 25: First of the UN campaign UNITE’s “orange day” to end violence against women and girls
October 9: The day Malala Yousafzai, the young girl from Pakistan, was shot by Taliban on her way home from school
December 16: The day the world was shocked by the brutal gang r**e of the young Indian student. Where does Swimmin’ for Women take place? Swimming can take place in a pool, the ocean a river, a lake or the sea. Whichever the swimmer chooses. How long do I have to swim? That is entirely up to you and how you feel. But, since you’re in the water, use it as your exercise session for that day! Anyone who wants to participate should ask their friends to contribute 1 Euro, 1 Pound, 1 dollar, 1 Yen or one in whatever your currency as long as it is of similar value. The swimmer then takes the contributions and makes an online donation Rete del Dono. www.retedeldono.it When we create the website, we’ll have an available form for swimmers to use for collecting ONE. It cannot get any simpler. It’s important to realize that swimmers all over the world are swimming to fight Violence against Women. How do I get others to join in? Let them know what you are doing and ask them to join in. Talk about it. Write about it on Facebook or Twitter, send your friends an email. Invite them to swim on the next date! What happens when Swimmin’ for Women grows? Money raised through Swimmin’ for Women will be used for solicited projects that fight Violence against Women in any country. These projects will be evaluated by an international committee and can provide support for training programs, educational materials to increase awareness, battered women’s and/or children’s shelters and other related creative projects. We will be implementing measures to ensure transparency and project monitoring and evaluation for funds donated and distributed! Imagine swimming on one of these dates and feeling the power of others swimming for the same cause in another part of the world! FEEL THE POWER…of one! And if you think YOU can’t make a difference, read this excerpt from the Star thrower by Loren Eiesley:
An old man had a habit of early morning walks on the beach. One day, after a storm, he saw a human figure in the distance moving like a dancer. As he came closer he saw that it was a young woman and she was not dancing but was reaching down to the sand, picking starfish and gently throwing them into the ocean. "Young lady," he asked, "Why are you throwing starfish back into the ocean?"She responded, "They’ve been washed up by the storm, the tide is going out and if I don’t throw them in they will die.""But young lady, can’t you see there are thousands and thousands along the beach. You cannot possibly make a difference."The young woman listened politely, paused and then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, and said, "There, I made a difference for that one." She picked up another and said, “And I made a difference for that one”. The old man looked at the young woman inquisitively and thought about what she had done. Inspired, he joined her in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and all the starfish were saved.
