Waves for Change is a community building and HIV educational programme rooted in surfing, based in communities where surfing and surf culture has never previously existed.

Waves for Change works in South African communities where HIV infection exceeds 25%, youth unemployment exceeds 50% and issues including gang violence, stigma and gender related violence have lead to the breakdown of traditional community values.

Waves for Change is unique in that it fully owned by the communities it serves and uses a pioneering training methodology to empower local community coaches with the skills to use the draw of the ocean to effect wider social change.

Waves for Change believes in empowering communities to address their own development issues and brings the necessary skills training, infrastructure and educational curriculum to create local solutions to national problems.

Waves for Change currently operates 2 sites in the Western Cape of South Africa and, as of January 2013, serves a community of over 300 beneficiaries. To date the programme has seen strong results in participants choosing to test for HIV, dropping out of gangs, entering drug rehabilitation schemes and participants re-entering school having dropped out.

At present, 30% of participants are female and a target of 50% female participation has been set for the end of 2013. The programme is run by a team of 10 community coaches.

Waves for Change has also seen its community sites register surf clubs with the National Body – Surfing South Africa – becoming the first surf clubs in the history of their community to surf competitively, altering the landscape of development surfing in South Africa and creating community hubs and alternative networks for youth and young adults in high risk communities.

You can assist Waves for Change by making a donation to support one of our training or schools programmes.

Waves for Change also opens a limited number of internships each year to assist with project management and programme evaluations. Please apply through our website.