A Participants View of Waves For Change
THE VOICE OF YOUTH: MICHELLE´S BLOG
A PARTICIPANT´S VIEW OF WAVES FOR CHANGE
Michelle (16) has been involved with Waves for Change since our early days – at the back end of 2011. As the first female surfer to emerge from her community she is a great role model to her peers. Waves for Change exists to educate young adults from ´at-risk´ communities, to open up forums that help them make good choices and navigate a path to a successful future. It´s great to see our earliest participants finding a voice – the programme is working and its future is in good hands.
As a girl in surfing I experience lots of things that are challenging in my community. In my community there are lots of challenges that I’ve faced like teenage pregnancy, crime and the youth that use drugs. I’ve got myself out of that by going surfing and expressing myself by riding the waves of my life. Lots of people in my community are afraid of surfing, they say there is a danger of shark attack. But I wanted to see for myself if I needed to be afraid – and I know that I don’t. I love getting barreled and I say surfing will always be there for me and I will never let go, ever. I thank Apish and the coaches at Waves for Change for introducing me to the beach. I have learned so much, and I also won a prize at Women’s day this year.
I love surfing.
Michelle.
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