Palama Metsi — Riding the waves to a new life

New report from Peace Boat’s 68th Global Voyage:

January 28, 2010 In Pictures: Cape Town and Palama Metsi – Riding the waves to a new life

Surfing is Zen, according to many wave riders: You stare off into the horizon, wait for that perfect swell and let go of absolutely everything else in your mind. In short, like the Buddhist movement Zen, it’s a way of life. Some also consider it an addiction, but one that is natural. “Surfing is the easiest drug,” says Shafiek Kahn.

Mr Kahn has surfed for 10 years and runs a board shop and surfing school at Muizenberg Beach, near Cape Town. But, he also uses his love of the sport to help young boys escape life on the streets. It all started when he met two boys who were living in a cave, up the hill from the beach. Every Saturday, he would spend a couple of hours in the water with them, and week after week he saw a change in their demeanour: his initial act of goodwill developed into the Palama Metsi Surfing Development Academy.

Palama Metsi, which means “water riders” in Sesotho – one of the 11 primary languages spoken in South Africa – now works with 46 boys. The assistance doesn’t stop at the shoreline: surfing is now only a part of the work Mr Khan does, which includes helping the boys get into school and finding a safe place for them to live. “We use surfing as a hook … a medium to better the life of street kids.” Currently, four of the boys at Palama Metsi are enrolled in a boating school and a number of others are taking a life saving course, which could help them find jobs in South Africa or abroad.

One of those first boys Mr Kahn met, and helped to escape the troubles of street life, was Junead Sampson. The 17 year-old says because of these lessons he learned how to respect others and himself. He’s also gone on to become an incredibly good surfer, having competed in national and international competitions.

For the last two years, Palama Metsi has operated with the help of only three other people and without any outside funding. The organization – at the time of the Peace Boat’s 68th Voyage’s arrival – was in the process of getting charity status. Until now Mr Khan has been raising money to keep the programme going by selling off used surfing equipment, such as boards and wetsuits, which he collects from his surfer friends and private students.

Toyokura Katsuko and other Peace Boat participants paddled out to the surf with some of the boys from Palama Metsi for an introduction to wave riding. Although the lesson was short, many participants came away with a basic understanding of how to at least manoeuvre the board. What’s amazing about the lessons, for Mr Khan, is that it only takes the boys a couple of weeks to actually stand up and surf: It took him a few months to achieve that feat. “All kids love playing in the water,” he says, “Once they step into the water they’re gone.”

Because the swells of the Southern Ocean have become such an important part of the boys’ lives, Mr Khan makes sure they appreciate the environment. Palama Metsi is partnered with a group called Ocean Minded to keep Muizenberg beach clean. “Seeing as we use it as our playground, we need to keep it clean.”

In his view, the programme wouldn’t be such a success if it was just about surfing. “Development doesn’t only take place in sport,” he says of other programmes that only focus on activities rather than actually helping children get out of poverty. Palama Metsi is unique because it tries to cover of the boys’ needs and the organization never turns anyone away – including kids with drug problems – as long as they are interested in helping themselves. “I’m not here to save the world. I’m only here to change those who want to change.” For more information about Palama Metsi Surfing Development Academy, visit the organization’s Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Palama-Metsi-Surfing-Development-Academy/92026471444.