A day in the surf with We Surf and Connect Kids
Experience a few days of excitement and joy as We Surf takes on the waves at the beautiful Mooloolaba Spit, accompanied by a group of underprivileged children aged between 5 and 15. This memorable surfing adventure was made possible through We Surf's partnership with Maroochy Surf School, which ran the 3-day 'Learn to Surf' program during the summer holidays for Connect Kids, a community-based initiative on the Sunshine Coast that aims to break the cycle of disadvantage within our society.
The perfect beach conditions provided an idyllic setting for the enthusiastic youth to experience the joys of surfing. Within three days, they successfully caught and rode their own waves to shore. We Surf was overjoyed to witness the passion for surfing ignited within these children, and the abundance of smiling faces throughout the holiday program served as a testament to the positive impact surfing can have on young people's emotions and sense of self-worth. Not only did they have fun in the surf, but they also had the opportunity to interact with one another, forming potential lifelong friendships within their community.
Gordon Barret, OAM, the CEO and Chairman of Connect Kids, has been actively involved with various community groups on the Sunshine Coast for many years. During his time working with the local disability charity, The Board Meeting, Gordon witnessed the detrimental effects that disadvantage can have on communities. This firsthand experience motivated him to create the Connect Kids program, which aims to address disadvantage throughout the entire Sunshine Coast community.
Having personally served as a mentor to numerous children, Gordon understands the long-lasting impact that mentoring can have in addressing the challenges posed by disadvantage. Because of this understanding, Connect Kids is proud to partner with the We Surf programs, which bring the joy of surfing and its positive effects on the well-being of young people in need.
“Without exception, all of those children that took part enjoyed themselves, and I reckon we‘ve got a few that will become surfers for life,” Gordon says. “Surprisingly, it was the older cohort of children who really thrived. It definitely bought out their inner child. All of those older children come from backgrounds of significant trauma and abuse, so it was great therapy for them.”
Make sure to visit the Connect Kids website at www.connectkids.com.au for further information about the wonderful initiatives Connect Kids undertake in their community. Their efforts are focused on inspiring young individuals to aspire to live in a community where its members can experience a joyful, healthy, satisfying, and secure life.