Surf Voluntourism Program

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What is Surf Voluntourism?

Surf Voluntourism is the solution for travelers who want to surf or learn how to surf while giving back to the people and destination they visit. In addition to surfing, Surf Voluntourists contribute to organized community development projects.

Who are Surf Voluntourists?

Surf Voluntourists range from experienced surfers to people who want to learn to surf or simply have the desire to visit and contribute to the development of coastal communities. Each year thousands of people young and old travel to developing countries to serve as volunteers, participating in service tourism, also known as volunteer tourism or voluntourism. There is a spectrum of motivations from pure service motives to mainly vacation interests with the desire to do some service. More and more, these voluntourist seek to combine their service with an adventure activity such as surfing.

How does Surf Voluntourism with WAVES work?

WAVES for Development offers an innovative opportunity for voluntourists to combine surfing and service in one trip. Surf Voluntourists practice or learn to surf while serving as volunteers in the Educational Surf program. WAVES assesses the skills and availability of interested candidates and match them to project needs and opportunities. Opportunities for volunteering depend on the needs of the organization at the time, but typically include: swimming instruction, surf coaching, mentoring, arts and crafts, sports and fitness training, language instruction, building and construction projects, photography, video production, and business training.

Why?

Surf Voluntourists have a real impact in the communities where they serve. In addition to the tangible contributions they make to community projects, they often transform themselves personally. Voluntourists connect with community members in a profound manner: laughing, playing, living, working and surfing together. This rich exchange provides local youth exposure to other cultures through meaningful interactions instead of only watching tourists come, surf and leave.