Valpo Surf Project

Mission Statement

Our goal is to use surfing instruction and academic mentoring to encourage English language skills, personal character development, and environmental consciousness among underprivileged and at-risk youth in Valparaiso, Chile.

Misión

Nuestro objetivo, es utilizar la práctica deportiva del surf, experiencias educativas tutoriales y el intercambio intercultural para fomentar el desarrollo de habilidades del idioma ingles, desarrollo valórico personal y conciencia medioambiental entre la juventud de escasos recursos de Valparaíso, Chile.

 Current projects: The Valpo Surf Project is a youth mentorship organization that works with at-risk populations in Valparaíso, Chile. Our kids often face tremendous hardships from an early age. Poverty, drug abuse, and violent crime are everyday realities in their neighborhoods. VSP is a source of stability, guidance, and consistency amidst an otherwise chaotic environment. Our goal is to use surfing and academic tutoring to encourage English language skills, personal character development, and environmental consciousness among our students.

Constant mentorship is the glue that unifies all VSP programming. On average each student receives 265 hours of programming per year including:

Surfing: Surf sessions are the heart of our relationship with our students. In the ocean our students take a break from the stresses of their everyday lives, engage in healthy physical activity, and spend quality time with their mentors.

Academics: We provide English classes, individualized tutoring, and college and career preparation. Our academic assistance helps open doors for our students they previously did not know existed.

Environment: Our environmental activities encourage environmental consciousness, community service, and leadership skills.

Since 2010, we have worked with over 750 students and provided over 5,000 mentorship hours during more than 1,550 activities. We have grown to include students from 2 schools, 3 distinct neighborhoods and Mejor Niñez, a state-operated child protection home for both juvenile rehabilitation and care for at-risk youth removed from unsafe homes. VSP is committed to each student, empowering them with the tools to better their own lives and positively impact their communities.