Making waves in the townships
Twenty-eight township kids recently learnt to swim and surf with the Ilembe Surf Riders.
With the aim of reducing the number of drownings and developing surfing culture in townships and rural areas, Ilembe Surf Riders’ ‘Learn to swim, learn to surf’ programme kicked off with the formation of the association in 2017.
The Ilembe Surf Riders association was formed in January last year and became the first district to be added to the Surfing South Africa’s body in the last 25 years.
Michelle Sykes said training took place at Thomson Bay tidal pool and that local professional surfers volunteer, helping the children as they learn to get their shaking legs to stand on a board with confidence.
KwaDukuza lifeguard Linda Hlophe helps them to source the children from townships around KwaDukuza. Sykes said local children have shown huge enthusiasm for the programme.
“When we started 92 children showed up for surfing lessons. Sadly due to limited resources, we could not accommodate such a large number of children.”
The children are now split into three groups: group A are the more advanced children who can swim and are getting ever better on surfboards, group B are children who can swim but need further lessons and group C are children who cannot swim.
She said they needed surfboards, transport and volunteers to assist the children while they are in the water. Another important need is funding and corporate sponsorship.
Some of the children that attend do not know how to swim at all, so they are working closely with the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation Ballito to develop the Learn to Swim Programme.
“The children are being taught to swim and how to survive rip currents. The aim is for them to understand water better.”
Should you want to donate your money, time, surfboards or any surfing materials, contact Nathalie Carbonel at nathalie@experiencetravel.co.za or call Michelle Sykes at 083 775 8537.
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