Submitted by: Skateistan

Waves for Change uses surfing to help children and young adults cope with the emotional and psychological stress that arises from continued exposure to violence and poverty.

Founded by Tim Conibear, their programs are life-changing for participants and have transformed the beaches where they work from hotbeds of crime and violent activity into family and child-friendly spaces that the whole community can enjoy. The DIY education project began in 2011 in a township outside of Cape Town, introducing a previously non-existent surf culture to nearby beaches, and now has three locations and a plan to expand its reach across international borders.

Watch ► This video shows Waves for Change’s positive influence on these communities.

Watch ► This is a powerful piece about the sensation of surf therapy from the same filmmaker.

AtlasAction: Waves for Change works in communities identified by the government of the Western Cape as areas of high violence. Sponsor A Waves For Change project in some of South Africa’s most under-resourced communities.

Waves for Change was mapped by Talia Kaufman, Skateistan Programs Director in Surf, skate, liberate: Skateistan’s AtlasChart Top 5.