Surf Community Project For All
Translation: Heido Sundstrom
In various parts of Mexico, there’s a program that has begun working with boys and girls to promote youth surfing, both as a fun activity as well as a sport for their health and physical and mental development, with everyone working in and for their community. Little by little, this project is bearing fruit and today there are several juniors in pro-am competitions.
When did this project start?
It began over three years ago.
How did the idea come about?
After seeing the absence of kids in the surfing selection for Baja California in the children and youth categories and the lack of young surfers in general.
Who came up with the idea?
Carlos Luna is the owner of the Locales MX surf school and he felt that a program was needed that would reach all children and also focus on the taking care of the ocean.
What does the program consist of?
Offering free surf classes every Saturday during summer and giving out paper bags colored by the kids themselves with messages about taking care of the beach.
What’s the next step?
The kids with more advanced skills are invited to become part of the Local Surf Team and we support them so that they can continue practicing year-round by taking them to surf at different beaches. The only requirement is that that have to be enrolled in school and maintain a minimum GPA of 7.5.
Who supports or finances this program?
Recently, a local lawyer named Laura Torres approached us to offer her support and purchased equipment for us. The state government has also supported us but much of it is absorbed by the Surf Locales School, which provides the use of their equipment, which affects the overall lifetime of their equipment but with a low impact. The philosophy and spirit of social support is more important than that.
What is the overall goal of the program?
To make sure that the kids who are now catching waves can help other kids their age to enroll and become involved in the program.
Who else is supporting the program?
We are currently working closely with an organization called AMORH.AC, which is an organization that supports us with psychological therapies to get kids more involved as a team and develop the social sense of helping other children who are just starting out in the program.
How many children are in the program?
Nearly twenty kids are currently enrolled, with twenty more about to join. We’re hoping to stay with ten new kids that will join towards the end of summer.
