SurfAid International Schools Program
This project's parent organization is SurfAid International
It operates in Pan-Australasia and United States
It uses Surfing
Entered the Sport For Social Inclusion Award
More about SurfAid International Schools Program
The SurfAid Schools Program uses Surfing and the humanitarian work of SurfAid International to drive positive social transformation through programs that focus on understanding and reducing the effects of poverty and its associated issues. International connections are made with the people and culture of the Mentawai Islands, off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia, through schools, students, teachers and the global surfing community.
This extremely isolated, internationally known premier surfing destination is used extensively by surfing companies for global marketing. Travel there is mainly by charter boats and the surfers that visit on the luxury boats rarely see conditions in the villages. SurfAid began when our founder, Dr. Dave Jenkins, visited a village during a surf trip to the area. He saw the stark contrast between the surfers’ wealth and the local poverty and prevalence of preventable diseases.
Following this trip he founded SurfAid to improve global social inclusion by developing water and sanitation programs, mosquito net distribution and comprehensive community-based health education programs that empower local communties. The SurfAid Schools Program turns SurfAid’s work into free curriculum resources that educate for intercultural awareness, global social responsibility and global citizenship values thus improving global social inclusion for the Mentawai people.