Helping Communities Connect Surfing and Sustainable Development
Local kids looking at the surfers out in the water. Kids who probably never going to have the opportunity to experience surfing, only to watch. It made us, at Olas Peru, wondering if we could do something to support those children to let them experience the feeling of surfing the waves of their communities, and to develop skills for their future. This is how Olas Peru Surf Travel got involved in the proyect of Waves for Development. The idea for WAVES for Development originated on the beaches of northern Peru, when a group of surfers shared a desire to help local youth with little resources enjoy surfing. Over the course of the next 3 years, WAVES formed a network over 30 dedicated individuals, organizations, and institutions in 10 countries. In 2006, Global Surf Industries committed to donating a shipping container of 400 (!) surfboards to be used in WAVES programming in Peru.
A group of volunteers first got a taste of the diverse Peruvian waves on the Stayin’Stoked Surfari with Olas Peru Surf Travel. After enjoying a great diversity of waves, the volunteers began their proyect in Lobitos, a small coastal community in the north of Peru with excellent surf.
Two sessions were held daily; one for younger participants and one for the older ones. Both groups started each day with English or Environment Education and concluded with Swim&Surf classes led by Olas Peru Surf School and other BSA (British Surf Association) certified surf instructors provided by WAVES. For some local participants it was their first exposure to the the ocean and surfing, although in the beginning sometimes scared by the force of the ocean, in the end they got totally stoked by the surf.
At the end an informal surf contest was held for the participants and volunteers alike, it was an incredible view seeing the kids ‘ripping’ the whitewater, the advanced ripping the incoming swell. In the end the winners received donated surf clothing prizes. It was an amazing & eye-opening experience.
The next cooperation with WAVES for Development will be at July 28th through August 8th during the school vacation.
Click here if you like to experience Peruvian waves & Help Peruvian coastal communities!
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