It isn’t hard to see that, as surfers, we are lucky. Most of us have families, friends, community–things we can rely on to help us get through. However, there are others, kids, out there who don’t have that shining light to get them through. There is no one to tuck them in at night, make them a meal, give guidance or put a roof over their head. It happens all over the world, and when one starts to think of what to do, it easily becomes overwhelming. English-born, Durban transplant, Tom Hewitt has been able to put one foot in front of the other and pave a road towards helping these children.
In Durban, South Africa, there are many homeless children fending for themselves on the streets. They are called “street kids.” These children face barriers we couldn’t imagine in poverty, hunger or even finding a home, and they cope in self-destructive ways–sniffing glue to get high, smoking and getting into trouble on the streets. But Tom has been working with street children for over 20 years and with the help of O’Neill and others, he has begun to change that. Tom’s program, Umthombo, uses sports like surfing and soccer as well as art and drama to show these children a way out of the street. Just take some time to watch these videos or any number of others about Tom’s program and it won’t take long to see that what he is doing is changing lives.
Surfing offers these children a new route out of the streets, a way to cope with the troubles they face day to day, and ultimately helps these kids become better people. Listen to any one of these kids speak and you will hear the confidence in their voice knowing now they can achieve anything they want. Surfing is their rehab, their medicine and their cure. There is nothing more beautiful than a smile of pure stoke, and it’s a gift that Umthombo strives to give these kids each day.
Check out Tom Hewitt’s website here to learn more about Umthombo and his efforts in South Africa.
