Our journey
It all began in 2011. 🌊🏄 After having surfing lessons in Devon, a new surfer from Pakistan and a surf coach's inspiration extended beyond just surf lessons.
Patrick Renaud (Trustee and co-founder) and Dave Renaud (Surf trainer, mentor & coach) spearheaded their passion with generosity to support this community project since the beginning. They along with the surf community in UK, donated countless surfboards, wetsuits and other equipment to sustain surfing activities in Pakistan. Donations came from local surfers in Devon (including celebrities and medical professionals) with whom Aftab worked as NHS colleague.
A picture on Flickr by renowned photographer caught our eyes where Four boys at Mubarak village beach were holding wooden planks waiting for a wave to catch. This picture inspired this community village project. Around 2014 -15, with the help of local contacts in Karachi, we traced Mr Khuda Ganj Shaad, a social worker from Mubarak village who invited us to meet youngsters. Finally, in July 2015, we delivered three used surfboards to the locals of Mubarak village. Mubarak village is a pristine untouched and crystal clear beach away from Karachi.
Our friendship started from day one and a bond was created by the passion of surfing from both sides.
Murtaza Sabir Ali joined in 2017. He is passionate about bringing change in society through empowerment and uplifting. He has been instrumental in keeping the project going. This would have been impossible without help and support from him and his friends including Faraz.
In the last 10 years, this project continued to expand. Boys who took up surfing have grown up and new generation is taking up surfing. This requires sustained support which we seek from wider audience.
Acheivements
Since starting this project, more than 50 youngsters and men became surfers only in Mubarak village. Many others took up surfing beyond Mubarak village in surrounding villages including AbdulRehman village, Gaddani and beyond becoming proficient surfers.
Not only that, we delivered basic surf lessons in 2017, 2019 and 2022 to encourage and motivate them.
Their feedback and motivation has kept us going back again and again.
We need support to continue these activities and need support.
Our friends and sponsors
From distant sandy beaches of South UK, the surfing community from Devon joined hands in their own special way donating top class surfboards.
From custom made to hand shaped, from shortboards to longboards, from special collection to old dust eating surfboards.
They sent to a new home in a distant land connected via oceans. donations came from all walks of life. Passion of surfing bound us together since first day proving surfing has no boundaries.
Media coverage
Once surfing started in Mubarak Village, it gained popularity instantly. Youngsters from surrounding villages started asking for surfboards.
We made our first surfboard shipment in 2017 and another one in 2021. Sometimes surfboards were delivered individually.
Once we started surfing activities from Mubarak village followed by surf board distribution to surrounding villages, everyone got interested.
Local media outlets and social influencers connected and shared the stoke surfing brings.
Surfing fever went beyond Mubarak village into other villages in both directions.
Next steps
With time and use, these surfboards and leashes snap and break. Despite hardships, our mission continues.
The seed we sowed in 2015 is growing every year. With our limited resources and support, our contribution has lead to surfing activities thriving in Pakistan.
To sustain and support, we need more support.
We would love to hear from like minded people to help and support this mission of poverty alleviation, community development and self-reliance.
