Surf Therapy
Surf Therapy
Since 2015, the Take 5 Model has been incubated, tested and refined within our flagship Surf Therapy programme, where Take 5 activities are fused with the fun and therapeutic benefits of surfing. Surf Therapy builds social connections, provides respite from difficult thoughts and feelings, and develops skills to cope with stress.
Take 5
Waves for Change has spent the last 5 years testing the feasibility of the Take 5 Model [on which Surf Therapy is based] as a framework to be used by a range of sports, arts, cultural and play based organisations and programmes around the world.
Piloted from 2011 and launched in 2025, the Take 5 Model can be integrated into any sport, play or activity-based programme globally. It is currently being used by partners in South Africa, such as the Western Cape Government, as well as globally, with UNICEF in South Sudan and Elman Peace in Somalia
Research & Advocacy
Since 2011, we have collaborated with national and international universities and young people to pioneer the Take 5 Model [on which Surf Therapy is based]. A key feature of the Take 5 Model is its incorporation of youth-led research. We share our research to inform continuous improvement in our Surf Therapy programme delivery, as well as to strengthen the wider sector.
Skills Development Programme
Our Skills Development Programme provides a comprehensive training and development pathway through which we employ 43 youth [18-25 years] to deliver our award-winning Surf Therapy programme annually.
Delivering Mental Wellness Support to Adolescents from Underserved Communities
Surf Therapy fuses the rush and therapeutic benefits of surfing with the Take 5 framework to create a fun, culturally relevant and youth-led mental wellness programme for adolescents.
Through Surf Therapy, participants learn how to build positive social networks and develop self-regulation skills to support healthy emotional and behavioural responses to stress. All whilst enjoying the wider therapeutic benefits of surfing.
About Waves for Change
Founded in 2009 and formally registered in 2011, Waves for Change (W4C) is a South African non-profit company working in the Western and Eastern Cape, with a support hub office in Cape Town.
Our focus is on providing mental wellness support to adolescents growing up in high-stress environments through delivering a combination of the evidence-based Take 5 Model and surfing – called Surf Therapy. Co-designed with the adolescents that it serves, our award-winning Surf Therapy programme has reached in excess of 10,000 adolescents and trained 215 coaches since 2011.
We are led by a management team of development specialists with local and international experience in corporate and NGO sectors.
Our Impact
A 2022 programme evaluation conducted on the Surf Therapy programme highlighted that when combined with surfing, the Take 5 Model is an effective psycho-social, educational intervention in environments where adolescents are exposed to violence. Findings suggest that Surf Therapy significantly enhances self-regulation among adolescents growing up in high-stress environments.
Research shows that adolescents aged 9 to 14 have a crucial window to strengthen their resilience and mental well-being. This window provides a unique opportunity for intervention and is of particular significance for adolescents already facing risks to their well-being, including poverty, deprivation, conflict and crisis.
Our Research
We provide access to 47 uninsured and underserviced communities to adolescent-friendly mental well-being services at five beach sites across two provinces: the Western Cape (Muizenberg, Monwabisi, and Hout Bay) and the Eastern Cape (Gqeberha and East London).
96%
Report feeling happier
93%
Report feeling more confident
94%
Are better able to calm down when they feel sad, angry or scared
79%
Have improved Heart Rate Variability
What Our Participants Say
Sihle, Surf Coach, Monwabisi Site“I have developed some self confidence because usually I was not the type of person who believes in himself but now I believe in myself and also I have found some sense of belonging and I'm more positive.”
Buja, Surf Coach, Muizenberg Site“I was always a shy person, I was scared to come out of my shell. I couldn’t tell someone about my past. I would just get too emotional and want to cry. But now I feel proud of myself. I’m brave enough to share my story.
Sisanda, Surf Coach, East London Site“Being able to provide such support and guidance to the children is something that makes me feel proud of myself because it is something that I never got or experienced growing up.”
Athandile“It instils confidence in me when I swim and when I speak with coaches if I have any problem.”
Father of participant with ASD"My child was frightened of the beach, the ocean, all sorts of animals. When I saw it in action. When I saw exactly how the coaches work with the children. Its phenomenal."
Mother of participant with ASD“After Surf Therapy, he wanted to go out more. Usually, he wanted to stay in the house, he didn’t want to play outside. But now, he wanted to go and tell everyone I’m going to the beach! He could socialise better now.”
Hlomla“The coaches are like parents, they always listen and motivate me.”
Latest News
Mental health resources, updates on Surf Therapy, and exciting announcements.
Get a Child to the Beach
Just a ripple can make waves and change lives through surfing and child-friendly mental health.
