From NYC to the World: A Founder’s Global Tour
Shawn Slevin’s Six-Week Journey
November – December 2025
After 33 hours of travel, Swim Strong Foundation founder Shawn Slevin visited seven countries across three continents. The mission: build global partnerships for water safety. The focus: listen to communities, observe water ecosystems, and establish connections.
JORDAN
Red Sea
Snorkeling with Rotary colleagues established relationships that would facilitate partnerships throughout the tour.
EGYPT
Cairo | November 21-23, 2025
World Conference on Drowning Prevention
Shawn presented at the 2025 World Conference on Drowning Prevention in Cairo (November 21-23, 2025). Her presentation, “Why Swimming Lessons Are Not Enough. Education is the Missing Link,” reached global water safety leaders.
Read the full blog post about the conference presentation:
World Conference On Drowning Prevention Post
ETHIOPIA
Part A: Addis Ababa
December 10-12, 2025
Rotary Club of Addis Ababa (Nida Ababa – West)
Shawn presented to Rotary Club leadership sharing Swim Strong Foundation’s mission and approach to drowning prevention.
Key Points from the Presentation:
- 12,500+ people taught to swim in 19 years
- $2 million+ in free swimming lessons provided
- Swimming skills alone are not enough to prevent drowning
- “Know Before You Go” focuses on situational knowledge of water
- Drowning is the 3rd leading cause of death globally
- 95% of drowning deaths are preventable
- Water safety education must address home water risks, environmental contexts, and climate change impacts
Watch the Full Presentation:
Coming Soon
City Exploration
Markets, streets, and neighborhoods of East Africa’s policy hub.
Part B: Northern Ethiopia & Omo Valley
Northern Ethiopia Landscapes
Sunset views. Religious architecture. Markets. Daily life.
The Karo Tribe – Omo River Banks
The Omo River: source of food, transportation, survival. The Karo people live on the river banks.
The Hammar Tribe
Twin brothers’ wedding celebration—multi-day festivities.
Bull jumping ceremony: young boys performing passage to adulthood. A father ill, wanting to witness his sons’ transition.
The Mursi Tribe
Community and landscape.
Part C: Gondar
December 6-7, 2025
Historic Castles
Gondar’s castles: centuries of history. Monuments to power and privilege.
The Emperor’s Pool
The Emperor’s personal swimming pool. Opening to the public during Timkat celebrations in January. Water access as privilege shifting to water access as shared resource.
KENYA
Kilifi | December 13-14, 2025
Swim Africa Training
In 93-degree heat, intensive training with Kenyan instructors.
Training curriculum transferred:
- “Know Before You Go” for East African contexts
- “Get Ready Get Wet” skill-building programming
- Assessment methods and community engagement
- Culturally relevant, locally owned content
Building local capacity rather than creating dependency. Kenyan trainers will adapt examples to local water environments, adjust communication to cultural norms, and identify community-specific barriers.
Kilifi Beach
After training, team celebration at the beach.
ZIMBABWE
Mid-December 2025
Victoria Falls
The bridge connecting Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia. Four countries. One river. One water system.
Water doesn’t recognize borders.
BOTSWANA
Chobe Reserve
Wildlife dependent on water sources: lions, elephants, African species across ecosystems.
Okavanga Delta
A massive inland wetland ecosystem. Hippos in water. Lush vegetation. Communities living with water as foundation of existence.
SOUTH AFRICA
Mid-December 2025 – To Final Days
Robben Island
Historic site where political prisoners were held during apartheid, including Nelson Mandela.
Water isolated. Water imprisoned. Water surrounds the island.
Cape Peninsula
Coastal exploration and regional tourism.
THE JOURNEY AT A GLANCE
Seven Countries | Three Continents | Six Weeks
Jordan – Red Sea, Rotary connections
Egypt – Cairo, World Conference on Drowning Prevention
Ethiopia – Addis Ababa, Northern Ethiopia, Omo Valley (Karo, Hammar, Mursi), Gondar
Kenya – Kilifi, Swim Africa training
Zimbabwe – Victoria Falls
Botswana – Chobe Reserve, Okavanga Delta
South Africa – Robben Island, Cape Peninsula
WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED
✓ Presented to global water safety leaders at World Conference on Drowning Prevention
✓ Established partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies
✓ Connected with Black Swimming Association of Britain
✓ Presented Swim Strong model to Rotary Club of Addis Ababa
✓ Observed three tribal communities’ relationships with water
✓ Conducted intensive trainer capacity building in Kenya with Swim Africa
✓ Established international partnerships for sustainable water safety education
KEY STATISTICS
121,000+ students educated by Swim Strong Foundation since 2006
104,000+ NYC students reached through “Know Before You Go” programs
12,500+ people taught to swim
28-36% improvement in water safety knowledge
0 drowning incidents among Swim Strong participants
$2 million+ in free swim lessons provided
95% of drowning deaths that are preventable globally
3rd leading cause of death globally (drowning)
SUPPORT THIS GLOBAL MISSION
Make a Donation
Register for Swimming Lessons
Connect with Shawn
Shawn.Slevin@swimstrongfoundation.org
Swim Strong Foundation – Skills for Life
Jamaica Educational Campus • Far Rockaway • Bushwick • James Madison HS • River East Elementary
New York City | Saving and Changing Lives Through Water Safety Education Since 2006
#SwimStrong #GlobalPartnership #DrowningPrevention #WaterSafety #FromNYCToTheWorld #KnowBeforeYouGo #RotaryInternational
