On World Mental Health Awareness Day (10 October), Waves for Change (W4C) is creating an opportunity for the public to experience a sea Immersion Session. This is one of the first sessions that W4C participants experience, and is an introduction to the ocean, the coach, and one another. Designed to instil a culture of ‘respect, protect, and communicate’, the physical act of entering the ocean hand-in-hand embeds a sense of safety and community. Between 10:30 and 12:00 on 10 October, anyone can experience the process at Muizenberg Beach.
The Immersion event is the launch of W4C’s annual fundraising campaign and kicks off a series of events in October – to raise R600 000 to provide 3 333 surf therapy sessions for children in need.
“Nine out of ten children in South Africa lack access to vital mental health support, leaving them vulnerable to the devastating impacts of trauma, adversity, and neglect,” says Tania Bailey, Relationships and Event Manager at W4C. “Children in our communities experience an average of eight traumatic events annually, ranging from violence and abuse to economic hardship. Yet, access to mental health services remains scarce. We know that early intervention can make all the difference, and we use surf therapy to reduce the long-term effects of adversity on children.”
W4C’s surf therapy programme is provided to 2,500 children per week, from 43 communities in the Western and Eastern Cape and combines surfing with structured psycho-social support. Every surf therapy session starts with mindfulness exercises, breathing techniques, and group discussions, all aimed at fostering a sense of community and emotional readiness.
“Repeated adverse childhood experiences, without adequate support, can lead to toxic stress. This keeps children in a state of high alert, causing lasting neurological and physical changes. During critical periods of brain development, it becomes hard for them to manage anger, and anxiety, and build safe relationships, increasing their risk of mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and substance misuse,” says Bailey.
For one of W4C’s senior surf coaches, Bulelani Zelanga, known as Buja, being exposed to surf therapy as a child growing up in an under-resourced and violent community provided an escape from the concerns and negative thoughts he faced. “Growing up in a township can be hard. I love my community, but there was also so much violence, so many people struggling, it was hard to cope and just be a kid,” says Buja. “I was always a shy person, scared to come out of my shell. I couldn’t talk about my past because I would get too emotional and want to cry. But now, I feel proud of myself. I’m brave enough to share my story.” Buja joined W4C’s Saturday Surf Club after completing 10 months of surf therapy. In grade 12, he became a volunteer assistant coach and later applied to become a W4C coach.
“Much like what Buja experienced as part of his surf therapy programme as a young child, a full immersion in the ocean is where the journey begins for children who need care, and we want others to experience it,” says Bailey.
The morning Immersion Session will include a range of activities guided by the surf coaches and aptly aligns with the South African Health Department’s Global Mental Health Awareness Month theme, “Let’s Talk About It.”
To support Waves for Change with a donation, click here: https://waves-for-change.org/donate/. For more info on the organisation, please visit www.waves-for-change.org.
If you are not able to join the event, you can support W4C’s mission in various ways:
● Donate: Every R180 donation supports a child’s surf therapy session.
● Participate: Join W4C at one of their free community events including an upcoming Mental Health Run on 27 October 2024.
● Purchase or “gift” a ticket to W4C’s next Comedy Show (29 October 2024 and booking platform TBC)
● Help fundraise: Create your fundraising challenge or join the W4C team at the Cape Town Cycle Tour in 2025.
● Support: Ultra-trail Cape Town (UTCT) Champion Fundraisers – 22-23 November 2024
● Sharing is Caring: Help spread the details about upcoming W4C events.
