Thanksgiving. Reflections. Anybody else wondering how we’re at the end of November already? In this time of reflection I think about all the wonderful people involved in the organization, tirelessly supporting the mission at home and abroad – for which I’m endlessly thankful for.
For example, WAVES was the winner of a Travel2change Idea Challenge. As such, a team of volunteers came to visit Lobitos, experience the culture, and share in the Educational experience. My belief is that positive changes happen because of visits such as these. That lives are enriched. For both the community members and those who visit through WAVES.
What kind of enrichment? The kind I envision is one where community members are embracing the increasing surf tourism that’s happening. Like Dario, for example, who decided he wants to become a chef. Thanks to you, as generous donors, WAVES is helping in that pursuit. Enrichment can also come from the exhilaration of running a small business and making some money in the process. Take Henry, who has learned about photography and now is applying it to surfing and the surfers who come enjoy this amazing resource in his backyard. By taking pictures of surfers and selling them, he also sets aside a % for his future business/education, % to WAVES for using the camera equipment and the rest he takes home. In summary, your support in Educational programming is leading to more education and jobs.
Positive change happens not only on the community level, but for the dedicated volunteers as well. Cultural exchange is a tenet on which the experiences, and enrichment is built. I believe that volunteers, too, experience a transformation in the way they see the world and themselves. For example, maybe they go back to their home communities and their eyes are opened to all of the volunteer experiences available close to home. Or perhaps they want to stay involved with WAVES and organize a house party to share their time and Lobitos community with friends and family. Maybe show CAPTURE: A WAVES Documentary. Maybe they’ll be inspired to go back and see first-hand the positive changes they’ve helped inspire – whether it be in the life of Henry or construction of a skate ramp.
While the Travel2change award represents volunteers physically being in Lobitos, what it stands for is much greater. It represents evidence of a social movement in the way people travel and volunteer. It demonstrates multiple entities for profit and not, working together, like Kuoni a travel partner, contributing to good greater than what’s possible alone. And how awesome it is that surfing is core to the experience too? Everyone wins. Volunteers win in sharing, and people in communities like Lobitos share in the winning.
