Catching waves for social change

The Local Surf Lounge Academy is a non-profit surf-centred safe space serving the youth surrounding Muizenberg, Cape Town. Our surf club project provides a safe-space to the vulnerable children & young adults from the severely disadvantaged surrounding communities of Vrygrond (Capricorn), Steenberg & Lavender Hill.

These areas are plagued by gangsterism, low-employment & broken family structures.

Our club provides the youth from these areas a place to come free-of-charge everyday, 7 days a week, providing an alternative to life on the streets, where they have positive mentors providing a meal, a shower & a strong focus on surfing as the tool for change, and the draw that keeps them coming back.

What we provide
● Swimming & Surf lessons
● Surfboards & wetsuits are FREELY available
● Internet access & place to do homework
● A shower & hygiene program (the youth often don't get this at home)
● A cooked meal
● Skills development such as Surf coaching, Contest judging, Ding repair
● Mentorship, focussing on healthy lifestyle choices.

All club members sign-in daily, having their progress tracked through regular discussion to help them deal with their individual challenges. We teach them to surf, provide all the equipment, and have team surf sessions every afternoon.

Once they have been in the program for an extended period (6-12 months) and show dedication & competency, we push them towards avenues in surfing development such as entering competitions, training as surf instructors, working at surf events. Several of our members have gone on to represent Western Province & South Africa achieving competitive success in this area, other graduates have found employment locally as Surf Coaches.

Our focus is to primarily offer these youth a safe, holistic environment to overcome their home situations, and then to develop them to achieve positive outcomes and become contributing members to society.