Living in Peru : your everyday companion

By Dave Aabo

One donation is shaping the history of surfing in Peru. Global Surf Industries (GSI) sent a shipping container full of surfboards to Peru last year. It’s true as GSI founder says “Life is better when you surf”. The driving force behind the boards’ arrival was a new not-for-profit association in Peru, Switzerland and the USA: WAVES for Development. With the help of IPD (Instituto Peruano de Deporte) and FENTA (Federacion Deportiva Nacional de Tabla) the donated boards have made it into select schools along the coast of Peru. Earlier this month WAVES for Development completed a two-week pilot project in the community of Lobitos, 65 km south of Mancora, putting some of those boards to good use.

The Educational Surf pilot ‘vacaciones utiles’ during the school vacation was a great success.  Thirty-eight local youth participants, ages 8-27, attended. The program consisted of alternating hour-long English and Environment classes, that took place inside and outside of the classroom, followed by an hour and half of swim and surf class with representatives from Olas Peru surf school on the beach. For some, it was their first time in the ocean. For many, it was their first instruction in swimming and surfing. A garden was planted in the school yard, and over 20 garbage bags of trash were collected from the beach. This was an opportunity for kids like 14 year-old Edgar, who fishes instead of going to school, to learn in an experiential setting.

Adventure Voluntourism is the name of the volunteer aspect of WAVES for Development.  Volunteers blend adventure and service to a coastal community; an example of how to do good while on vacation. Twelve travelers from Switzerland, the Netherlands, Australia, the US, the UK and Peru volunteered for the pilot program where they lived, cooked, taught and surfed together. Some call it the “Real Not-for-Profit World,” others call it community living, we call it Adventure Voluntourism. 

Peru has a rich surfing history. Blessed with waves practically everyday of the year, it’s only fitting that WAVES for Development starts its programs in Peru.  As a new not-for-profit (run in part by returned Peace Corps Peru Volunteers), we are constantly looking for people and resources to support us in our endeavors. If you or anyone you know might be interested in going on a trip, making a contribution or supporting us otherwise please contact us at info@WAVESforDevelopment.org. The Fiestas Patrias school vacation will be the next Educational Surf and Adventure Voluntourism program in Lobitos. Help make WAVES for Development!

About WAVES: WAVES for Development connects surfing and sustainable development and stands for what its programs encapsulate: W-ater, A-dventure, V-olontourism, E-ducation, S-ustainability.  Our mission is to use surfing to make the world a better place.  The community-based educational programs promote: Life skills for local youth, environmental conservation, sustainable tourism and social entrepreneurship. We offer Educational Surf programs for local youth and Adventure Voluntourism programs for international travelers. More information visit: www.WAVESforDevelopment.org.

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Absolutely marvelous, Peru is such a beautiful country. The world should know more about what Peru has to offer.
Congratulations
Brenda

Hola! Soy un tablista peruano viviendo en Washington DC e trabajado con la escuela de tabla de Magoo de la Rosa y me gustaria poder ayudarlos para promover mas los temas relacionados con las olas y la limpieza de las playas por ahora me encuentro en DC y soy miembro de surfrider si puedo ayudar a promover un poco el programa estaria muy contento.


Gracias! 

Hola! Vivo en Los Angeles y estoy muy orgullosa del programa de surfing 

Me gustaria saber si alguien tiene un video para promoverlo en YOU TUBE, que es a nivel mundial. Tenemos que promover este deporte que se practica en USA , Europa etc. Esta es una gran opportunidad para atraer el turismo al Peru.

Gracias 

Siempre me encanto el surf y cuando yo era adolescente no se veian mujeres practicando este deporte.  Ahora vivo en Miami y aunque trato de involucrarme, las olas en La Florida no permiten tener un buen espectaculo de tabla.
Por favor avisen si van a poner videos en YOU TUBE.  Igualmente, si necesitan donaciones para el progama.
Saludos.

Saludos Amigos!

Check out our youtube channel:  http://youtube.com/user/wavesfordevelopment 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3okxy-zcg5g
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Siempre estamos buscando apoyo.  Visite:
www.WAVESforDevelopment.org
Fernando, Sylvana, contactanos a info@wavesfordevelopment.org para mayor informacion.

Thanks for the support!

que hayan WAVES

Great story and glad to see them doing good work.  I hope it can be expanded to more of southern Peru as well.

Also this is an English site and as it says in the form you use to post "Currently we only allow english comments."

Dear Friends 

I am so proud of the work this organization are doing. I like to know if you can created an international board members.

This will help the organization to grow and promote this great project.

The objective will be to get international members all over the world, we have peruvians,and young people every where to help with the marketing,promotion,product(website , newsletter, surf board,video etc.)

Vision: To promote this program and get global members. 

Take care 

GH

For the english guy:
Its true that this is a site about Peru in English, but there are people who understand Spanish and English. If you do not understand Spanish it is  not the problem of the bilingual people in Peru. If you do not understand learn some Spanish, but do not prohibit to leave comments in Spanish. If there are readers like me who understand Spanish why not to leave comments in Spanish.
Omar

I can understand Spanish just fine.

Why can't you just follow the policies of this site? Or at least post the same comments in both languages.