This past week, Swim India's upcoming programs have been overshadowed by the terrible terrorist attacks that rocked Mumbai. Many people lost their lives in this tragedy and a whole country is now in mourning. It will be months before the full repercussions of last week's events are fully realized and, although we don't know how this incident will affect our organization's future, we are continuing with our program plans for January.
While we are in India, we will be taking a number of precautions in order to minimize the risk to our volunteers. First, we will be travelling in two states, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. These states have some of the safest track records in all of India. We will be sticking to smaller towns for the most part, never closer than 600 miles from Mumbai. Also, we will be avoiding any high profile targets such as government buildings, resort hotels, and fancy restaurants. Our volunteers will always travel in groups, avoid public mass transit systems, and minimize the amount of time spent outside after dark.
India has also taken measures to ensure the safety of its citizens and visitors. In the shadow of these attacks, India has increased its security and intelligence nationwide. Pakistan has been assisting in the investigation and has pledged any support India needs to bring these terrorist cells to justice.
Swim India will continue to monitor events as they unfold over the next few months and will adjust its future programs accordingly. We are committed to making our volunteers' safety our top priority. You may check our website and blog for updates as we become aware of them. Please keep the people of India in your thoughts as they come to terms with a changing world.
Regards,
Ben Schaub
Executive Director
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