The Kovalam Surfclub is located in Kovalam, India and was founded in 2005 as a part of the bigger NGO SISP. SISP is active in the area since 1996 and tries to improve the harsh living conditions of the poorest by offering them free education, medical care, food support, old age care, micro credit unions, literacy classes, training and work in handicraft units,...
The idea behind the Kovalam Surfclub was to get the children of SISP off the streets outside of the school hours and to act as an extra motivation to keep these kids going to school on a regular basis. The main rule to participate in the surf classes is: 'No school—No surfing'!
The Kovalam Surfclub started off with 3 old boards and 5 to 10 kids, eager to become good surfers. The beginning was hard, as the kids weren’t used to take care of the equipment, especially if it has a certain value. So every week there were boards to be fixed, but the children learned how to repair the boards themselves and figured out it was hard work, so they became more careful.
But the tourism police and lifeguards were for sure the biggest problem. Because the only life these children know, is a life packed with violence and misery, so they acted like products of their society. These children weren’t welcome on a beach that is reserved for tourists, well protected from the dark side of India. The surf groms had to learn to behave in what we call a 'civilised' way, in order not to get sent away by the authorities.
Today, the Kovalam Surf Club has around 20 members and is a registered sports club, becoming the first official surfclub in India. Foreign tourists as well as locals are impressed by the surf skills of the local surfers and are really stoked on riding the waves as well. The demand for surf lessons has never been so big. Some of the older boys will soon be able to make a proper living out of surfing, by offering surf lessons, guided surf tours, board rental and ding repair. Varghese, who was my first Indian surf student, is now already making a living by working for ‘Soul and Surf’, an organisation that provides surf lessons and takes tourists on guided surf tours.
Thanks to our sponsors and befriended surfers we now have a surfboard for every child and an appropriate surfing outfit. The children have their own clubhouse, where we keep our equipment and slip into our surf shorts.
The local authorities now know the surfing children and respect them, as long as they behave appropriate, which they have learnt to do. The key point is that all the surfing kids are regular at our school and therefore will get a better chance in succeeding in life in a more humane way. But surfing also makes them proud and happy because for the first time in their life they get respect and attention for being good at something.
How to help?
The social aspect of SISP costs money to keep on going, so funds are always welcome for our daily expenses.
Lately we have been focussing more and more on social employment. We try to create jobs for unemployed youngsters and women from impoverished backgrounds who have had little or no schooling. By the summer of 2012 our new employment units will be operational and funds will be needed to start these new projects up. More info on this will follow soon.
Some of the older surfers show great interest in making a living in the surfing industry by offering surf lessons, guided surf tours, board rental and ding repair. To start this up we need appropriate beginner boards, a certified instructor to professionally train the local instructors, a professional website, logo, customised rash vests for instructors and their students,...
JELLE RIGOLE
If u think u can help us in any way, be it financial or with logistics, contacts or appropriate surf equipment, don’t hesitate and contact
Jelle.rigole@gmail.com
Or surf to
http://www.sisp.be/English/support.html
Thanx to
O'neill
All surfers over the years who donated their boards and goodies...
The photographers for letting me us their pictures to promote SISP and the Kovalam Surf Club
All of you who have contributed to SISP over the years and helped us in the struggle for a more honest world...
More info
www.sisp.be
http://vimeo.com/14209021
jelle.rigole@gmail.com
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