Press release

Thursday 14 February, 2008
Sydney, Australia

SURFAID INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS PROGRAM LAUNCHES THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

The SurfAid International Schools Program, sponsored by Billabong, is expanding throughout Australia and New Zealand after a successful launch in NSW last year.

SurfAid is inviting schools to get involved in this exciting program, which provides an opportunity for students to learn about the geography, economy, culture, health and living conditions of the 70,000 people of the Mentawai Island region, off the coast of West Sumatra, Indonesia.

SurfAid Schools Program Coordinator, Kristin Gomes, said approved teaching units are now available for Australia and New Zealand. “We are actively seeking teachers interested in trialling the program and looking at ways in which the material can be adapted to their curriculum standards,” she said.

Gomes said the schools program is cutting edge in that it uses online delivery of free teaching resources and programs. “We recognize this to be the future direction of education in the 21st century,” she said. “The program and teaching units have been developed to assist teachers with engaging students in a meaningful conversation about important global issues, raising their social awareness and encouraging them to become good global citizens.”

Students and teachers can register to participate in the program through the SurfAid schools website at: http://schools.surfaidinternational.org

The isolated Mentawai region, a series of four islands 150km off the West Sumatran coast, is one of the world’s most desired, tropical surfing destinations but in the worst villages there are shockingly high child mortality rates.

It is also one of the most-at-risk areas globally for a large magnitude earthquake and tsunami. Two major earthquakes, measuring 8.4 and 7.9, struck the region last September, causing major damage to villages and launching SurfAid into emergency mode.

SurfAid International CEO, Dr Dave Jenkins, said SurfAid has always aimed to use the uniqueness of its mission and its relevance to the youth of today to offer education on critical global issues such as reducing world poverty and on becoming informed global citizens. “This program makes an important contribution to that objective and will also be rolled out in the United States of America and Europe,” Dr Jenkins said.

The resources of the New South Wales Department of Education and teachers from the Sydney North Region combined to initiate and trial the program in Australia. SurfAid staff member and former teacher, Vivienne Hill, developed and trialled the New Zealand units. Teachers unanimously reported that their students enthusiastically embraced the topics being studied and produced creative and authentic material.

Top Billabong pro surfer Taj Burrow said he had travelled to the Mentawai region since he was a grom (young surfer). “I basically do a trip there every year so I have been aware of all the good work that SurfAid has been doing, especially after all the big ’quakes up there. SurfAid is run by people who surf and who care about the epic places we get to go to. Everyone should get involved in some way.”

All donations to SurfAid are tax deductible in Australia, New Zealand and the USA.

For further information please contact:

Kristin Gomes
International Schools Program Coordinator
Mobile: +61 (0) 415 428 365
Email: kristin@surfaidinternational.org

Vivienne Hill
Schools Program Manager – New Zealand
Mobile: +64 (0) 275 759 707
Email: vivienne@surfaidinternational.org


SurfAid International
The mission of SurfAid International, a non-profit humanitarian aid organization, is to improve the health of people living in isolated regions connected to us through surfing. SurfAid is incorporated in the USA, Australia and New Zealand, with the program base in Tuapejat, the regional capital of the Mentawai Islands, off West Sumatra, Indonesia. SurfAid is the recipient of the 2007 WANGO (World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations) Humanitarian Award.

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