MISSION: To improve the health of people living in isolated regions connected through us through surfing.HISTORY: Six years ago, physician and surfer Dr. Dave Jenkins went on a surf charter to the Mentawai Islands with one goal in mind: to find perfect waves. The surf proved to be everything he had hoped for. What he also found, though, were the Mentawai people—mostly women and children-–-suffering and dying from the ravages of malaria and other preventable diseases. Troubled by the inequity of lifestyles and moved by compassion, Dr. Jenkins went on to establish SurfAid International, a non-profit organization dedicated to the alleviation of human suffering through community-based health programs. With the support of the New Zealand and Australian governments, the global surfing community, and most importantly the Mentawai people of the affected areas themselves, SurfAid has come to exemplify the healing power of cross-cultural partnerships.
TODAY: SurfAid has expanded to include 53 villages and over 37,000 beneficiaries in our program, which is a community development health initiative focusing on malaria control and childhood health. SurfAid is also laying the foundations for the communities to run their own health programs and build on the prevention of other diseases. Through the sales of this Hope Collection Tee, $9,462.70 has been contributed to SurfAid International.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Visit Surfaid International’s website for ways that you can donate and get involved.
www.surfaidinternational.org
