Nearly two decades since a fateful trip to the Mentawai Islands, SurfAid is expanding into Mexico. Photo: Steven Lippman
Editor’s note: Nearly twenty years ago, Dr. Dave Jenkins took a dream surf trip to the Mentawai Islands. During that trip, he ventured on land and was disturbed by the tiny gravestones of children who had succumbed to preventable illnesses and diseases. In the decades since, SurfAid has worked tirelessly to support communities in rural Indonesia, and we’re excited to have partnered with them in the small ways we’ve been able to over the years. Late last month, SurfAid announced they’d soon be expanding operations into Mexico, and we wanted to share the words of SurfAid founder, Dr. Dave, with you. Give a few shekels to support if you’re able here.
When I think of Mexico, I think of right-hand point breaks like Punta Abreojos and beaches like K-38 and San Miguel. Then I think of the smell of the tortillerías, the chilis drying in the sun, the parched earth and the beautiful people.
What I don’t like to think about is that despite being mere miles away from one of the wealthiest countries on the planet, families are lacking even the most basic healthcare and quality nutrition. I want to do something and together, I know we can.
By now you’ve heard the SurfAid story – how in 1999 I took a life-changing trip to the Mentawai.
Baja is a rite of passage for the Southern California surfer. But it’s more than empty pointbreaks and beers and tacos. Many still lack basic healthcare and nutrition. That’s what propelled SurfAid to expand operations in Baja next year. Photo: Jacopo Cosmelli
Surf trips to Mexico are a rite of passage. Who hasn’t felt the call of Baja’s famed right-hand point breaks and seasonal swells? But just like my early trip to Indo, these travels also expose us to a multitude of needs. That’s why SurfAid is excited to partner with the International Community Foundation (ICF).
For over 25 years, ICF has worked directly in the Baja California peninsula and Gulf of California region, connecting people with projects aimed at improving quality of life through special projects and grants.
With ICF, SurfAid will partner with a carefully vetted project that will help strengthen the capacity of existing health services in the region. Coupled with our continued success in Indonesia, the collective giving of the SurfAid Tribe will be doing more than ever before. It’s been close to two decades since my life-changing trip to the Mentawai, yet surfers like you continue to work together to ensure our communities have clean water & sanitation, basic healthcare, and improved nutrition.
This month, SurfAid is kicking off our latest campaign #NeverForgetTheLocals. The campaign will support our continued efforts to give back to struggling communities introduced to us through surf travel. Last year, we exceed our goal of raising $50,000. This year, we need your support again. In 2019, it will make an even bigger impact as we prepare to expand to Mexico and continue our successful Mother and Child Health Programs in Indonesia. We will continue to share updates as we finalize our project in Baja and encourage you to learn more about our project online.
