Waves For Change Foundation Ltd

WAVES FOR CHANGE'S SURF THERAPY IS A COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE TO CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. WE USE THE POSITIVE HEALTH BENEFITS AND RUSH OF SURFING WITH MIND-BODY THERAPY TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE BUILD PROTECTIVE RELATIONSHIPS, IDENTIFY AND REGULATE EMOTIONS, SELF-SOOTHE AND BUILD A POSITIVE IMAGE OF THEIR FUTURE. FACILITATED BY YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE SAME COMMUNITIES: 43 CARING COACHES 2034 PARTICIPANTS! WE NOW WORK WITH ALMOST 40 PARTNERS IN 11 COUNTRIES INCLUDING A HEADLINE PARTNERSHIP WITH ELMAN PEACE AND UNICEF IN SOMALIA. OUR GOAL NEXT YEAR IS TO PACKAGE OUR PROGRAMME AND TRAINING TOOLS SO THAT MORE AND MORE PARTNERS CAN USE THEM TO BRING A MENTAL HEALTH FOCUS TO THEIR YOUTH PROGRAMMING. DUE TO THE SUCCESS OF PROGRAMMES WITH NEURODIVERSE GROUPS, WE HAVE NOW ESTABLISHED AND MAINTAINED RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY-BASED REFERRAL PARTNERS, INCLUDING SCHOOLS FOR LEARNERS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS, LOCAL HOSPITALS (DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH), LOCAL SOCIAL WORKERS AND CHILD AND YOUTH CARE CENTRES (DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT), SCHOOLS FOR DIFFERENTLY ABLED YOUTH AND THOSE AT RISK OF EXCLUSION (DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION). AS OF FEBRUARY 2022, WE NOW REACH 250 NEURODIVERSE AND HIGH-NEED PARTICIPANTS IN OUR SERVICE ANNUALLY. THESE PARTICIPANTS ARE REFERRED BY KEY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH ROLE-PLAYERS. THIS NOW REPRESENTS 13% OF OUR TOTAL PARTICIPANT POPULATION EVERY YEAR. WE BELIEVE THIS WORK CONTRIBUTES TO OUR AIM TO RELIEVE THE BURDEN ON THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM AND MAKING SURE OUR SERVICE REACHES THE CHILDREN THAT NEED OUR SUPPORT THE MOST. PRODUCED A LEARNING BRIEF WHICH HIGHLIGHTS OUR EFFECTIVENESS. ALL 233 PARTICIPANTS IN THE STUDY ENDORSED EXTREMELY HIGH RATES OF EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE, SUCH THAT 100% OF PARTICIPANTS HAD WITNESSED VIOLENCE, AND ALL BUT 2 PARTICIPANTS (98.2%) HAD DIRECTLY EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE. THE KEY FINDINGS OF THE STUDY SHARED BY VAN DER MERWE CONFIRMED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SURF THERAPY AND THE 5 PILLAR METHOD IN KEY MENTAL HEALTH PREVENTION AND PROMOTION OUTCOMES, LISTED AS ESSENTIAL BY THE DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE THE TREATMENT GAP IN CAMH SERVICES. THESE OUTCOMES INCLUDED IMPROVED SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS, REDUCED IMPULSIVITY AND MORE ADAPTIVE SENSATION SEEKING (SUCH AS BRAVERY) RATHER THAN MALADAPTIVE (SUCH AS SEEKING DANGER). THE STUDY CONFIRMED THAT THE W4C'S SURF THERAPY PROGRAMME IS AN EFFICACIOUS, TRAUMA-INFORMED INTERVENTION FOR VIOLENCE-EXPOSED CHILDREN AND YOUTH. W4C SURF THERAPY AND THE UNDERPINNING 5 PILLAR METHOD THEREFORE PRESENTS AN EXCITING MODEL FOR SCALE, WHICH COULD PROVIDE AN ESSENTIAL SOLUTION FOR HUGE TREATMENT GAPS IN SOUTH AFRICA, TO ENSURE WE RESPOND TO THE CRISIS IN CAMH, AND ARE NOT FOUND WANTING AGAIN... SOURCE: ANNUAL REPORT