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Last
Updated: Jul 16th, 2008 - 15:28:35 |
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| SurfAid International |
Five years ago, physician and surfer Dr. Dave Jenkins chartered a luxury yacht in the Mentawai Islands with one goal in mind: to find perfect waves. The surf proved to be everything he had hoped for.
The surf proved to be everything he had hoped for. What he also found, though, were the Mentawai islanders---mostly women and children-–-suffering and dying from the ravages of malaria and other preventable diseases. Troubled by the inequity of lifestyles and moved by compassion, Dr. Jenkins went on to establish SurfAid International, a non-profit organization and international humanitarian aid organization, that same year.
Soon after, Dave was contacted by investment banker, Andrew Griffiths, a fellow Kiwi in London preparing for a surf holiday in the Mentawai Islands. Andrew had heard about Dave’s Mentawai initiative through a friend and set up a meeting, where the two immediately clicked. A plan was quickly hatched a to raise a couple of thousand dollars through friends and contacts - enough to buy mosquito nets and permethrin (the insecticide for treating the nets) - and pilot a small malaria net distribution program to the villages adjacent to the breaks Andrew would visit.
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| SurfAid International |
Andrew's first SurfAid mission was a success. Hooked, Andrew swapped his life in London for a tiny project in a small Mentawai village. Working as volunteers out of Padang, West Sumatra, Dave and Andrew began laying the building blocks of the SurfAid International Mentawai Health Program.
In the years that have elapsed since the founding of SurfAid, others have joined in the effort, including individuals, international corporations, government agencies, and global health organizations. Coupled with the support of volunteers, the international surfing community, and most importantly the Mentawai people themselves, SurfAid has come to exemplify the healing power of cross-cultural partnerships.
SurfAid has expanded to include 13 villages and over 13,000 beneficiaries in their program, which is a community development health initiative focusing on malaria control and childhood health.
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| Kids SurfAid Helps |
SurfAid is also laying the foundations for the communities to run their own health programs and build on the prevention of other diseases.
*Note from Editor:
This is a great organization that can use your support. Visit their web site to find out how you can make a difference.
Please visit SurfAid International.
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