Travelling the world, chasing perfect waves in adventurous and exotic locations is what we live for here at Ticket to Ride. On top of this, however a positive impact on the local communities is right at the centre of the TTRide travel ethic.
Having become well known for the work that we do inSouth Africa, Deborah Grossman (a volunteer from Mission Mexico) got in touch to tell us all about the work Mission Mexico does in Mexico.
Whilst Mexico is blessed with some of the best waves on the planet, Mexico's socio-economic struggles are also well known.
Here is an update from Deborah telling us what Mision Mexico and specifically MissionSurf is all about.
Missionsurf was established by Misión México, a refuge in Tapachula, which provides a loving, secure home for abandoned, abused and severely disadvantaged children.
Misión México, set up by Australian couple Pam and Alan Skuse in 2001, focuses on family values, education and sports; three aspects of life that these children had never been introduced to before.
While surfing at the weekend may just be a fun hobby for you or I, surfing offers a unique opportunity for these young children to escape their pasts and build their confidence.
Nurturing the children and encouraging them to do well promotes a better chance at breaking the cycle of poverty; this is what Misión México strives for.
Sea and surf education is rare in Mexican communities and now Misión México has established a unique surfing community which they have pioneered in Tapachula, a coastal city with no other wave riders. When the charity’s founders Pam and Alan first arrived, the children at Misión México didn’t even know how to swim. Yet nowadays it’s not uncommon to see these children rescuing people from the water.
One of the many surf-graduates benefiting from Missionsurf is Moacir Zeledon, now 22 years old, who was abandoned at Misión México as a child when his mother left Mexico for US in search of a better life. Moacir established the Surf School in 2011, along with Pam and Alan. He said: “Missionsurf has the real potential of making a difference and we are witnessing how a new generation of surfers flourished in Mexico.”