Surf Nonprofits to Benefit from Kickoff Charity Event for NY Surf Film Festival and Unsound Pro

Two big pieces of news from our friends at WAVES for Development (WAVES). They have hired a new Program Manager and this past September, co-hosted an event and ‘unconference’ with the New York Surf Film Festival (NYSFF).

Australian Naomi Godden joins WAVES as the Program Manager of the organization’s surf voluntourism program in Lobitos, Peru.  In addition to an interest in surfing and volunteering, Naomi, a trained social worker, brings with her years of experience working in community development, research, and as a PADI Divemaster and Emergency First Response Instructor.

As the second member of WAVES surf voluntourism staff in Lobitos, Naomi joins local Peruvian Holggers Clavijo, WAVES’ Surf Instructor / Program Assistant. She has already worked to offer PADI First Aid Training for local community members and voluntourists and revise the program’s educational curriculum for youth.  Local instructors are now offering Spanish and surf lessons to interested volunteers as part of the surf voluntourism offering.

Over the next month, Naomi will continue carrying out a participatory community consultation through visits to local families and organizations to get to know the community better and how WAVES can continue to help it meet its needs through sustainable development.

Moving from Peru back up to NYC….On September 23rd, WAVES for Development, along with other surf-related non profits, Waves of Health, the Best Day Foundation, Stoked Mentoring, the Surfrider Foundation, Surfer’s Environmental Alliance and SurfAid International provided information on their programs at a kickoff event hosted by WAVES for Development for the second annual New York Surf Film Festival. Surfing has inspired many individuals to take action in the areas of film, conservation, sustainability, education, health, and humanitarian aid and this event brought together representatives from each in a spirit of collaboration.

During the last day of the festival WAVES and the NYSFF hosted an ‘unconference’ meeting of the minds for filmmakers, nonprofits and surf businesses.  The purpose was to explore  collaboration between the interested parties to use surfing as a tool for positive social change.  Round-table discussions included: the filmakers of Whitewash, All Points South, Day of Light, and Surfing 50 States; surf nonprofits – WAVES for Development, Waves of Health and SurfAid International; and surf industry representation from OKOTO apparel and Hive Surf.

Photos from these events and more can be found here.

About WAVES:

WAVES believes that travel should benefit the people and the communities where it happens. WAVES creates life-enriching experiences in coastal communities through Educational Surf programs that develop youth into healthy and empowered adults and Surf Voluntourism programs that engage travelers and transform their world view.  Community-based programs promote:

Cultural Exchange and Understanding

Environmental Conservation

Life Skills / Healthy Living

Social Entrepreneurship

Sustainable Tourism

Press Contact: 
Dave Aabo 
WAVES for Development International, Inc 
345 W 48th St. Ste 1A 
New York, NY 10036 
518-339-2142 
info@WAVESfordevelopment.org 
http://www.WAVESfordevelopment.org