10 Questions with South Beach Stoke

1.) Full Name, Location & Project.

Willem van Deventer, South Beach Stoke in Durban, South Africa.

2.) Describe your project and what it does?

Our aim and vision is to uplift, feed and teach life skills to the poorest of the poor, the orphan, the widow, the addict.

3.) What has been the reason for you to start up your project for the community in which you’re serving?

Poverty and suffering are a definite reality in S A, our reason for starting is that we want to give love to the hurt children.

4.) How have you seen using the tool of surfing impacting your community?

As many children are without a home and are on the street daily we are seeing the impact of surfing as a tool to keep them away from dangers on the street, drugs, and human trafficking.

5.) What challenges do you face on a daily basis?

With no support from government or local municipalities, resources such as clothes, school fees, food and running a very expensive ministry ie. Surfboards, Body Boards, Leashes, wetsuits, wax and above all food we face all of these 12 months a year.

6.) What has been one of the highlights or accomplishments of your project?

Many highlights, children starting to trust our team in what we teach them, excelling in school(those that can go to school), provincial colours in surfing and to see the leaders in the group stepping up, taking responsibility and helping others.

7.) What are your goals for the future of your project?

Funding to get more kids into school and establishing a after school safe house for kids to study and do their daily homework. This goes of course with feeding them on a daily basis.

8.) Share your favorite picture taken of your project and describe why this is your favorite.

Pictures sent, can't chose one, they are all special.

9.) How has your project benefited from the Groundswell Aid community?

Tremendous support from Groundswell, financial, surfing aids, and at the worst time enough funding to keep at least 25 families alive supplying food etc.

10.) Share with us a word of wisdom that will help your community or the world become a better place?

Live closer to the compass God gave us in studying the bible, living the bible and be more of Jesus Christ to the community.