Award winning surf therapy programme Waves for Change and Red Bull release a video showcasing two of their young mentors in South Africa as part of Red Bull's "I am the engine" documentary series.

Waves For Change (W4C) was founded by Ashoka fellow Tim Conibear, who spent time in South Africa after graduating from university in the UK. An avid surfer, Tim spent every free moment he had surfing. In 2009 he started a small surfing club in Masiphumelele Township. The club centred around voluntary weekend surfing sessions, which soon grew when local community members – Apish Tshetsha and Bongani Ndlovu – volunteered to lead and expand the club.

Apish and Bongani recognised that surfing was a great way to engage young people, who soon started sharing their stories and challenges. In an effort to provide more social support, the trio reached out to local social services only to realise that local services were heavily under-resourced. A gap was identified.

Daily exposure to violence and stress means many South Africans suffer from acute emotional and psychological stress. In the absence of emotional support, the stress often manifests in anti-social and high-risk behaviour, placing many young South Africans at risk. Early surfing sessions showed that participants noted improved feelings of belonging, strength, trust and confidence – key pillars of wellbeing. This was reflected in their behaviour as noted by teachers and parents.

The trio crew teamed up with mental health professionals and development experts to develop what is today an award winning surf therapy programme. W4C works in communities affected by violence, poverty and conflict, where mental health services are often stigmatised and under-resourced. Working in partnership with local community members, we identify, train and resource mentors, who we work with to open programmes that service the youth of their own home communities.

Red Bull’s ‘I am the engine’ documentary series portrays ten inventors and visionaries who are taking risks and overcoming failure to find solutions that benefit their communities. Meet two Waves for Change mentors who are doing exactly that!

 

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Africa