Umthombo is an organisation based in Durban, South Africa that empowers street children and aims to change the way that society perceives and treats them. Umthombo’s Durban model is pioneering the idea of providing alternatives to street life through engagement and therapeutic interventions and focuses on addressing the traumas associated with the children’s experiences. Umthombo’s team is a fusion of social working professionals and trained former street children who have a unique understanding of the realities of the street child experience and an incredible relationship of trust and respect with the children.

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Umthombo also engages in advocacy around key issues that relate to street children.  Through campaigns it aims to demystify the urban phenomenon of street children, educate society as to the realities that these children face and to impact policy and decision making in relation to street children. Umthombo develops informed citywide strategy examples as a springboard to local debate and action and has been actively part of the developing of a new national policy on street children with the South African Department of Social Development. 

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Umthombo is a South African non-governmental organisation that empowers street children towards alternatives to street life. it is a fully registered section 21 company and non profit organization. Umthombo’s surf program is an engagement programme designed to transition street children out of street life.  Although we started using surfing over ten years ago we restructured the programme two years ago and started the Surf Stars project. Sandile “Cyril” Mqadi, well-known surf coach and surf judge, has been employed full-time with Umthombo as head coach for the last four years. Umthombo’s founder Tom Hewitt is a lifelong surfer and surfs with the kids whenever he can. Surfers Not Street Children!