Local Surf Lounge Academy is our grass-roots non-profit surf club that caters to the youth from historically-disadvantaged communities (Steenberg, Capricorn Park, Lavender Hill) surrounding the surfing hub of Muizenberg, Cape Town. The clubhouse is right in the heart of Muizenberg at 120 Main Road. LSLA provides a safe-space away from the harsh realities of ghetto life, a place where all are welcome. Our youth (aged 7-17) are on the fringe, many were begging on the parking lots of Surfers Corner until they joined the program, now they are Surfers, not street children!
Our surf club project provides a safe-space in Muizenberg to the vulnerable children & young adults aged 10-18 from the severely disadvantaged surrounding communities of Vrygrond (Capricorn), Steenberg & Lavender Hill.
These areas are plagued by gangsterism, low-employment & broken family structures.
Our club provides the youth from these areas a place to come free-of-charge everyday, 7 days a week, providing an alternative to life on the streets, where they have positive mentors providing a meal, a shower & a strong focus on surfing as the tool for change, and the draw that keeps them coming back.
What we provide
● Swimming & Surf lessons
● Surfboards & wetsuits are FREELY available
● Internet access & place to do homework
● A shower & hygiene program (the youth often don’t get this at home)
● A cooked meal
● Skills development such as Surf coaching, Contest judging, Ding repair
● Mentorship, focussing on healthy lifestyle choices.
All club members sign-in daily, having their progress tracked through regular discussion to help them deal with their individual challenges. We teach them to surf, provide all the equipment, and have team surf sessions every afternoon.
Once they have been in the program for an extended period (6-12 months) and show dedication & competency, we push them towards avenues in surfing development such as entering competitions, training as surf instructors, working at surf events. We receive logistical support from Surfing South Africa as part of their mandate to further Transformation in Surfing in our country. Several of our members have gone on to represent Western Province and achieved competitive success in this area, other graduates have found employment locally as Surf Coaches.
Our focus is to primarily offer these youth a safe, holistic environment to overcome their home situations, and then to develop them to achieve positive outcomes and become contributing members to society.
We are driven by the idea that although people are not born into the same circumstances, those more fortunate can do MORE to address this imbalance.
Finding ways to engage society to make a difference, using all the technologies & guerilla tactics necessary.
We live in a polarised world of Us & Them, and want to change perceptions to We, Us.
Charities need to be accountable for every cent, its the only way to gain trust and to honestly do the work we say we do.
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