Surf Voluntourism with WAVES for Development (WAVES)
WAVES believes surf travel should benefit the people and communities where it happens. Educational Surf programs develop youth into healthy & empowered adults. Surf Voluntourism programs engage travellers & transform their world views. Go to surf, stay to serve.
About You
Section 1: About You
First Name
Dave
Last Name
Aabo
Organization
WAVES for Development International, Inc.
Country
United States, NY, New York County
Section 2: About Your Organization
Organization Name
WAVES for Development International, Inc.
Organization Website
Organization Phone
5183392142
Organization Address
345 W. 48th St., Ste. 1A, NY, NY 10036
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Organization Country
United States, NY, New York County
Your idea
Name Your Project
Surf Voluntourism with WAVES for Development (WAVES)
Country your work focuses on
Peru, PI
Describe Your Idea
WAVES believes surf travel should benefit the people and communities where it happens. Educational Surf programs develop youth into healthy & empowered adults. Surf Voluntourism programs engage travellers & transform their world views. Go to surf, stay to serve.
Website URL
Would you like to participate in the MIF Opportunity 2010?
Yes
Innovation
What makes your idea unique and innovative?
Three main characteristics of uniqueness:
+ Using surfing to do good
+ Holistic / global approach
+ Replicable
Surfing isn't always considered a 'give back sport' however, talk to surfers who visit remote destinations and many want to give back where they visit. WAVES provides the infrastructure. This infrastructure is the housing and food options that directly benefit local families; recycling & education programs that conserve the environment; and volunteer opportunities related to nontraditional education.
The WAVES idea was formed by 8 people, all with college degrees, all with a connection to northern Peru. The diverse perspectives, cultures and expertise led to a holistic approach. Our community development pillars that programming and classes are based: sustainable tourism, social entrepreneurship, environmental conservation, life skills / healthy living, and cultural exchange and understanding.
Local professors are hired by WAVES to offer year-round, in-school and after-school classes that include English, environmental education, swim/surf, surfboard repair and entrepreneurship. Volunteers plug into these ongoing classes as assistants. For example, a volunteer might lead the conversation or pronunciation section of an English class.
Identifying local leaders and building capacity is a replicable model for coastal communities where unmet educational needs & unrealized surf tourism exist. Activate, listen, and respond is the approach. Internal and external activators inspire a response within the community. Following a pilot program, extensive community consultations and conversations ensue. Based on the diagnostic results, we deliver related programming. For example, a business-oriented volunteer developed a micro-credit structure. His contribution helped fund the loan. After, he helps determine recipients of future loans. As seen here, volunteers provide human & economic resource before, during and after their service.
Do you have a patent for this idea?
No
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What impact have you had on your clients and the tourism sector?
We have two principle clients: local youth and travelling volunteers.
The impact of travelling volunteers (close to 90% with college degrees) on local youth is measured in the number of volunteer hours and the educational value in dollars of those hours. Since February of 2008, using conservative estimates, over 70 volunteers have donated 39,836 hours of teaching English, environmental education, surf, swim, art and entrepreneurship classes with a dollar value (at $20/hr per IndependentSector.org) of $796,720.
The impact on the volunteers has been life-changing. For example, one traveller, after volunteering, realized they wanted to pursue graduate studies in teaching. Another volunteer returned to the programs in Peru a second time and that involvement led to a new job and career upon returning to the states. Yet another volunteer mentioned that through her volunteering experience she has become much more active in her personal philanthropy. The impact on volunteers typically extends past their time in Peru.
In addition to the almost million dollars of education the organization is bringing to the community, actual dollars are being spent directly with local families. At this time (October 2010) close to 20 families have directly received economic benefit through the presence of volunteers and the program in Lobitos. With a population of roughly 1000 people, this number becomes more significant.
Qualitatively speaking, the gap between visiting surfers and the community is being closed. While there is still a chasm between the two, the fact that the children of fisherman families are now surfing is impacting the perception. The kids are able to 'share the stoke' and carry their boards through town, tell stories about their experiences and better relate to all the surfing visitors - this all contributes to further understanding, creating a more favourable tourism environment.
Problem
+ Unmet Educational Needs (meaning that a low % of youth graduate high school with limited educational careers after) Education in coastal communities within Peru is quite poor. Statistics, such as roughly 30% graduation rates from high school exist and can be found on the Peruvian Natioanl Institute of Statistics and information website: http://www.inei.gob.pe/
+ Wave resources are not accessible to locals (high entry costs w/ expensive gear) It costs over $500 to purchase a surboard, leash and wetsuit - the basic implements needed to venture into the ocean to surf. Add on surf and swim lessons and the cost increases. Surfing provides a healthy outlet for self expression. Additionally, the inter cultural exchange that results in the water while sharing waves is unparalleled.
+ Lack of hospitality training (increasing tourism has not yet led to significant increased incomes or economic benefit for local families and businesses) The training needed to provide the skills to successfully engage the increasing surf tourism inbound traffic is simply not available in many coastal communities. Visiting surfers can help provide that training and exposure.
Actions
2005-2007 Conversations, connections and project formulation and obtained surfboard donation (400)
2008 - February pilot program for two weeks
- Hired local leader to coordinate education and sport activities
- July phase 2 pilot
- Aug / Sept social entrepreneurship pilot
- Oct / Nov commence ongoing volunteer programming
2009 - Community Consultation
- Arrival of 37 volunteers
- Program offering expanded and solidified with hiring of Program Manager
2010 - Community Consultation
- Policies and Procedures developed
- Organizational structure refined
The following structure has been outlined for classes:
+ English in school
+ after-school surf
+ after-school surfboard repair
+ weekend environmental education
+ small business development
Because English teachers are not provided by the primary school, WAVES hires a local professor to teach over 160 students. Volunteers plug in and assist with pronunciation and conversation aspects.
Year-round after-school classes typically have between 5-20 students. These classes, led by local professors, are enriched by visiting volunteers w/ relevant skills and interests.
Results
Over 200 youth participants attend WAVES classes. Youth have gone on to start their own small-scale 'moto-taxi' businesses (Edgar), offer fishing tours (Balto), and deliver conservation presentations for peers. Lives have changed.For example, meet Dario. Three years ago, Dario had never been surfing, only seen the hundreds of surfers flock to his town to enjoy the waves. He didn’t really know how to swim, and only been in the ocean a few times with a body board. Now Dario is an avid surfer and waterman. He frequently surfs and helps younger kids in Lobitos get in the water. Spending money has been earned fixing surfboards, a skill acquired in the WAVES surfboard repair (entrepreneurship) classes. Once timid, Dario now engages WAVES volunteers from all over the world with increased confidence. His aspiration upon graduation from the Lobitos High School, (one of six students to do so this year), is to attend culinary school and become a chef. An extended educational career now looks promising.
Over 70 volunteers have hailed from 9 countries. Because of the WAVES experience, Alumni have changed careers, started new ones, been offered jobs and returned to Peru.
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Please address each year separately, if possible.
2011 - partnerships
- improved monitoring and evaluation systems
- infrastructure development w/in Lobitos (and associated resources)
Partnerships that produce results (increased volunteer numbers) will be a key performance indicator in 2011. By focusing more time on program delivery instead of volunteer recruitment and selection, more favorable outcomes will result.
Another major factor that will lead to continued success over the next three years is an improved monitoring and evaluation system. While we're doing a good job of collecting outputs w/ number of youth participants, volunteers, etc and qualitatively telling their stories, more indicators of success directly tied to programming will be needed.
Another significant goal in 2011 is the construction of additional educational infrastructure in Lobitos. These facilities will be designed for specific programmatic use - Education and Surf Voluntourism. Currently other spaces are being adapted to house Education programs. For example, surfboards are stored in the kitchen of the local family's house where volunteers stay. That same kitchen has served as a classroom. To be successful over the next three years, appropriate infrastructure development will need to take place.
2012 - replication in new Peruvian communities
- solidify governance of WAVES Peru
- staffing in new locations
Replication and growth will be needed by 2012. With more opportunities in more locations, more volunteers can attend the programs. More volunteers mean more resources. More resources equal higher compensation standards which lead to greater staff retention. Growing the carrying capacity of both programs will facilitate the accomplishment of our mission.
With three legal not-for-profit entities in three countries, an appropriate governance structure is important. Many of the same people serve on the governing bodies of multiple organizations. By pulling in new people, especially in the case of WAVES Peru, with skill sets that fill gaps (for example, an expert in Peruvian nonprofit law and governance) would do wonders for the organization success.
Conveying the lessons learned from Lobitos staff to those in a new location will be a key sucess factor.
2013 - growth internationally
Identifying partners in new countries will allow the idea to truly reach its potential.
What would prevent your project from being a success?
Natural or other disaster. A concern we have in a coastal community is the 'el nino' phenomenon which could impact not only the surf class program delivery, but also tourism to the area. The implications are quite broad as the road to Lobitos becomes impassable with heavy rainfall and flooding. In the past, boats were used to transport food and people to and from the regional capital, Talara.
Insufficient capital. This item could also be viewed as insufficient fundraising to cover staff and program costs. Relying too heavily on any one source without diversification could prove detrimental. While volunteers provide the majority of program funding through their required Volunteer Contribution minimum and weekly Program Fees, a reduction in volunteer numbers would have a negative effect on the overall success of the programs. Similarly, volunteers complement and enrich the class settings with their presence, cultural perspective and expertise.
Staffing issues. A lack of coordination and acceptance between new and old staff members could negatively affect the entire system. For example, if volunteer satisfaction is low, poor reviews will filter to potential volunteers. Additionally, as the organization grows, new processes and formalities will need to be developed. The ability of core and founding staff to adapt with the developments will have a direct impact on the project success.
Poor Governance. A disengaged board would undoubtedly hinder the project from being a success. As we continue to grow and diversify the board the responsibilities of board members is transitioning from operations to governance - a good thing. Having many first time board members involved, a good bit of training and support should be sought. To this end the organization has become members of BoardSource and is looking to tap into available resources.
How many people will your project serve annually?
101‐1000
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
$100 ‐ 1000
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy or introduce models and tools that benefit the tourism sector in general?
Yes
Sustainability
What stage is your project in?
Operating for 1‐5 years
In what country?
Peru, PI
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
Yes
If yes, provide organization name.
Federacion Nacional de Tabla (FENTA), Instituto Peruano de Deporte (IPD)
How long has this organization been operating?
More than 5 years
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government?
Yes
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
The partnership w/ IPD and FENTA was critical in launching the program. Specifically, receiving donated surfboards from a non-monetary partnership with Global Surf Industries was invaluable in our ability to offer any kind of pilot program. IPD, through its connection and relation to the Ministry of Education facilitated the boards passing through customs and their subsequent storage. Without their help it would not have been possible.
Other partnerships exist internationally. For example, the last two years WAVES has organized a Rising Tide... Surf Causes Event in NY where diverse surf-related nonprofits come together in a spirit of collaboration. It is a fundraising event held in the belief that the resulting attention, money and networking will benefit all involved - a rising tide lifts all boats. This event facilitates communication between WAVES and other organizations; that personal connection between leaders is what makes things happen.
In a new program site, Chicama, Peru we have a signed agreement with the local government there to pursue educational and tourism goals together.
Planeterra, the nonprofit arm of GAP adventures now promotes our programs.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization?
Three most important actions:
1) Further develop Board governance structure. We have a relatively small board of seven members. For many, it's the first time serving on a board. More training opportunities will enhance the effectiveness of the board. To this end we have become members of BoardSource. Additionally, we'd like to continue to grow and diversify the board. We have identified some gaps and are looking for appropriate candidates to fill those positions. (If you or someone you know is interested in finding out what the latest situation is, please email us at: info@wavesfordevelopment.org). We realize that when the governance piece is in good working order all the other pieces tend to line up as well. Similarly, setting a clear course with clear objectives, goals and indicators will help facilitate the next big action, which is...
2) Apply to more grants / major donors. While support has come from the US, Switzerland and The Netherlands, we need to identify and procure more grants and major donors. Government grants, both in the US and abroad can potentially solve the growth capitalization puzzle. Similarly, we need to identify more major individual donors that believe in our mission to an extent they are willing to invest in it. Past, present and future volunteers provide the pipeline for such contributions; we need to cultivate those relationships. Realizing that the typical sources of funding model indicates that a small percentage of donors provides a big percentage of funding, we need to grow that small percentage!
3) Further develop policies and procedures as we move from infancy to growth in our organizational development. Up until this point, we have been a small group of individuals implementing the programs. To get to the next level in our organizational development, we will need to formalize more of the policies and procedures through the creation of manuals that are living documents. These documents can help resolve conflict and create standards for how inquiries, complaints and feedback are handled. This formalization of procedures will undoubtedly lead to greater efficiency and growth in the long run.
The Story
What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?
"We have people lined up to buy the surf boards" This is what Mark Kelly, Managing Director of Global Surf Industries, said about the 400 donated surfboards designated to WAVES for Development when the government approvals were delaying the donation from being sent. That was when I knew I was committed to seeing the idea through - no matter where it lead. It was early 2007.
The innovation itself is the amalgamation of various peoples ideas from various countries with various backgrounds all coming together on the beaches of northern Peru. Eight people to be exact. The US, the UK, Switzerland, Australia, and the Netherlands were the countries represented. Geography, teaching, business, anthropology, and marketing where some of the degrees that these visionary people pursued. It was beautiful to see all the people and ideas come together behind a unified vision of using surfing to make the world a better place.
Google groups was used to communicate while we led our distinct lives in our respective homes. It was called the Peru Surf Project then. We figured out an organizational name, settled on a logo and created content from all around the world. Nonprofits were started first in Peru, then Switzerland and finally the US. A Dutch nonprofit was also formed under a different name.
The series of fortunate events, such as the generosity of a major surfboard manufacturer, the buy-in from Peruvian government officials and the support of the Peruvian Surfing Federation all lead to things moving forward. It also took great personal sacrifice by a number of those original founders - financial and otherwise to make it happen. By taking big risks, a big reward resulted - volunteers signed up, contributed and told their friends. The rest is history, as they say... or can at least be found on our website.
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
As alluded to earlier, WAVES is much bigger than any one person. I feel blessed to work with other amazing people that have helped out in more ways than to list here.
I am, however, happy to share more than what you'll find on my Facebook page. I grew up in upstate NY riding horses (thanks Mom and Dad for introducing 4-H). At about age 14, I started snowboarding. Because it seemed cooler. I was all about the adventure.
After high school, then an avid snowboarder, I thought: What's the most exciting thing I can do? My aunt and uncle lived in Colorado... so I applied to Colorado State University, a bigger school. It made sense, as I didn't know what I wanted to study. I knew I liked snowboarding though.
After studying abroad in Grenoble, France, and my Dad being from Denmark, my eyes were opened to travel and culture. I wanted more. I selected classes interesting to me, and coincidentally they were part of the Business Administration core, so I continued along that track.
Upon graduation, I had a choice. Two real options stuck out - make a bunch of money, then help others when old; or, make the world a better place while young (and without house/car payments, girlfriend, dog, etc.). I joined the Peace Corps.
The Peace Corps in Mauritania was eye-opening. I wouldn't change it for anything. However, September 11th happened, and where I was living was not ideal for making the change I wanted to see in the world... around then Alejandro Toledo was elected president of Peru and invited Peace Corps back to Peru.
I heard about the Master's International program while still in Mauritania and I knew it was the program for me. I would study this fascinating thing called 'international development' and at the same time get a couple more letters next to my name. All while completing a full Peace Corps experience in a new country (ideally Peru).
It all worked out. I was part of the second group of Peace Corps volunteers to return to Peru. My Master's degree in Organizational Management yielded the capstone research - Sustainable Tourism Realities: A Case for Adventure Service Tourism. The two case studies provided a nice theoretical background for why WAVES would make sense in Peru. And it does.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
Email from Changemakers
If through another, please provide the name of the organization or company
50 words or fewer
MIF Opportunity 2010
Has your organization been legally constituted or registered in your country or one of your target countries for at least three years?
Yes
Does the applicant organization have sufficient financial resources to guarantee the co-financing required by MIF during the execution period of the project? (This amounts to at least 50% of the project’s total budget with 25% in cash and 25% in-kind.)
Yes
Does the applicant organization have experience managing projects co-financed by international organizations? Please describe below
WAVES International relationship w/ WAVES Peru
Please classify the applicant organization according to the options below
Other
What problem-area does your project address?
Access to knowledge and training, Access to markets.
How will your project address this problem?
Education is a serious issue in Peru. In certain coast communities, particularly ones in the north of Peru, graduation rates from high school can be as low as 30%. Exact statistics can be found here: http://www.inei.gob.pe/
By recruiting volunteers and promoting Lobitos we will be providing a small market.
Who is benefited by the initiative? (Please highlight the type and number of beneficiaries, and their role in the tourism value-chain.)
Local youth aged 6-20 = 160. They are learning the skills to engage the increasing surf tourism market. For example, they learn English, surfboard repair, how to teach surfing, surf guide services, etc.
International travelers that volunteer on the program will participate in the tourism value chain as advocates for the destination as well as being the initial direct clients.
How will the project's results assist the region’s tourism sector and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises?
The region's tourism sector is burgeoning. Most visitors to the north of Peru go to the beach town of Mancora. Developing Lobitos will offer an alternative and complement to that. Additionally, it will diversify the surf tourism destinations in the area of Northern Peru. Micro businesses arise first in the form of homestays, then to restaurants and guide/instruction services. Small and medium sized hotels and hostals will continue to grow.
A. Total Budget (100%)
US$ 50,000
B. MIF Contribution (up to 50% of total budget and US$. 500.000 max)
US$ 25,000
C. Cash co-financing (at least 25% of total budget)
US$ 12,500
D. In kind co-financing (at least 25% of total budget)
US$ 12,500
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| negritos_w_jahnel.jpg | 143.66 KB |
 | 77 weeks agoDave Aabo updated this Competition Entry. |
| 77 weeks agoDave Aabo said: Matt, Awesome. Again, thanks for the suggestion. I'll plug some more info related to how the volunteer program operates in the ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 77 weeks agoDave Aabo updated this Competition Entry. |
| 77 weeks agoMatt Guttentag said: Thanks for the information, Dave; it's always helpful to get a more detailed understanding of how the program for volunteers operates. ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 78 weeks agoDave Aabo said: Hi Matt, Thanks for taking the time to read over our entry and offer some feedback on what could use some clarification. ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 78 weeks agoDave Aabo updated this Competition Entry. |
| 78 weeks agoMatt Guttentag said: Hi Dave, Thanks so much for your submitting your entry and sharing your excellent social enterprise! I am very interested in your ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 82 weeks agoDave Aabo updated this Competition Entry. |
| 84 weeks agoDave Aabo submitted this idea. |
