“Water the Great Equaliser” - Jamal Hill Paralympic Swimmer, Founder of Swim Up Hill Organisation
“In a world comprised of 74% water the Swim-Up Hill | Non-Profit, through its strong network of educational resources, volunteers, donors, and partners aspire to live in a world where everyone can learn how to swim from their home or community. We are leading the world towards reconnecting not only people but entire communities to an affinity for water.”
When Jamal Hill made it onto the Team USA Paralympic swimming roster in 2018, he knew that he wanted to offer the world more than just a view of him wining medals and personal accolades. As he reflected on his own childhood experiences and how few role models he had in the sport that looked like him, he knew that his career had already begun to embody the phrase “Representation matters” for youth around the world, but how could he increase the opportunity for others? Jamal decided the best way to use his expertise, skills, and platform to truly serve others was by teach one million people to swim around the world beginning with his home city of Los Angeles.
He had a dream of a global community where everyone could safely enjoy the experiences and opportunities that would come as a result of knowing how to swim. For two years Jamal Hill and his business partner Wilma Wong conducted extensive research and development training individuals who either self identified or had family members that identified them as aqua-phobic, with the aim of creating a learn to swim curriculum that could effectively and efficiently serve even the most apprehensive of students.