The first time I visited Lobitos was in February of 2004 as a Peace Corps volunteer in Northern Peru. I’ve had the good fortune of coming back to visit multiple times each year since then. It’s always exciting to see what little and big changes are happening in terms of the WAVES for Development operation Lobitos. Here are a few of the latest…
First, the staff. While we’ve had some of the same people on the team pretty much since our humble beginnings in 2009, as we grow in numbers and impact, more and more people are forming part of the team. I’ve been in touch with everyone via email and skype, but nothing beats meeting in person and seeing the enthusiasm and skill that each brings to WAVES, both in and out of the surf, with and without volunteers. And of course, in the kitchen making meals from scratch (like lasagne).
Next, the programs. There has been great strides made in the programming – from the house to house community consultation happening right now, various education classes provided through the Community Outreach programs, the numerous concrete floors being poured with local families as part of Environmental Health, to the local guys running the (basic, but first and only) Surf Shop in Lobitos as part of the Entrepreneurship Program, amazing things are happening.
Finally, the volunteers & interns. WAVES has been fortunate enough to attract really cool people to surf, volunteer and learn about community development in Lobitos. With so many volunteer options in South America and Peru alone, I’m stoke on everyone who has found us and stepped up both with time and money to give of themselves to further the mission of creating life enriching experiences in coastal communities (Lobitos) through education & surf voluntourism initiatives. While oftentimes it is the sustained effort of the local team that’s driving the positive change, it’s the volunteers’ investments that fund those positions and create jobs for Lobitenos. And the next generation of kids in town are better equipped to set career goals and pursue their dreams.
But it’s not all barrels, the best waves of your life, constant offshore winds and young lives being enriched. There are challenges. People leave. Volunteers, interns and staff alike move on. This creates opportunities for others to step in and step up. Lobitos can be a tough place to live. Things move at a different pace – not always the one we’d like. Things we may take for granted at home aren’t always there or reliable, like internet, water or electricity. But that’s okay, because pretty much everyone around you is in the same situation, so you adapt together.
Despite the challenges and because of the all the impressive things happening here, I really do love this place. Last weekend we went camping in the dunes by the beach. It was awesome. Simplified life. Cooking chicken over a campfire, sharing stories and laughs, moonlit phosphorescence in the water, and then having a solid A-frame wave all to ourselves the next morning was the icing on the cake.
