Editor’s Note from Jake Howard:A guiding light when it comes to surf therapy and the rise of the African surf movement as a whole, Surfer’s Not Street Children (SNSC) transforms lives every single day. Founded in Durban, South Africa, in 1998 by Tom Hewitt and a small band of believers, today the program reaches across countries and oceans to positively impact the lives of young people.
Surfers Not Street Children was an organization I had long heard of and admired and it took on another level once I traveled to South Africa. Founder Tom Hewitt was kind enough to invite me over for dinner with his son Siyanda (an absolute ripper of a surfer). Tom was excited to share the story of one of the more dynamic surfers who has ever come through the program, Indiphile Osinach, known as Indi.
SNSC
Not only has Indi competed twice in the ISA World Junior Championships, she’s been empowered to help others and has excelled in her studies and was accepted on a partial scholarship to study International Law at Swansea University in the UK and join the school surf team. Tom has organized a GoFundMe on her behalf to help cover the costs of living abroad, if you’re able, please donate here.
Tom explained, “Indi joined Surfers Not Street Children at age 9, she was one of the first girls in the pioneering Girls Surf Too programme. She is now 18 years old and has already represented South Africa twice on the international stage. Over the years, she’s become more than a participant — she’s become a mentor, a role model, and a source of hope to girls facing the same challenges she once did.”
“I always dreamed of studying overseas, especially in the UK. It’s not just about me — I want to come back and use what I’ve learned to improve the system here in South Africa. The credibility of an international degree can help open doors, not just for me, but for the change I want to create.”
Indi
“For Indi, Surfers not Street Children was a safe space where she could come and surf and receive mentorship. Part of the organisation’s programs are to ensure that all the kids in the program have access to school and opportunities that may come their way. Indy excelled at school and got fantastic grades in her final high school year.”
Inspiring everyone from Kelly Slater, to Prince Harry and Pope Francis, they endeavor to provide poverty-stricken youth living on the streets with a means to uplift themselves and change the trajectory of their lives. Surfing is the reason to get involved, but once kids are in the program, they’re introduced to social and counseling programs, educational resources, and career guidance. Surfers Not Street Children is proof that just one wave, one ride, one chance, can make a world of difference. – Jake Howard
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