Pressley Ridge – Asociación de Solidaridad Social has been dedicated to promoting mental health in children and youth through surfing for nine years. In almost a decade, Carcavelos beach, in Cascais, has already seen hundreds of students from various schools in the region (and Amadora) benefit from the Surf.Art program, which since 2019 has consecutively convinced the Jury of the Childhood Award, promoted by BPI and by Obra Social “la Caixa”.
The project is coordinated by the psychologist Nuno Fazenda, who has the support of a multidisciplinary team to coordinate the action. This idea had been received before, during the pandemic, it is even more urgent to provide therapeutic surfing practice to children and adolescents – or the public-alvo of Pressley Ridge – for two contexts where they are inserted, also promoting contact with nature. Most come from socially disadvantaged backgrounds and had never tried surfing or knew how to swim.
Every day, groups of 10 to 13 children and young people (up to 15 years old) learn to overcome their fears on a board. The Nuno Fazenda team does the rest, involving the family, the school and the community. There is also a large group of volunteers who have been joining the initiative, some of whom have specific training in psychology. In the sweaters there is a printed phrase that they adopted as a mantra: “in the sea we are all equal”.
It is through the maxim “learn by doing” and group reflections on experiences at sea that children develop skills for life. They work “courage, confidence, self-control” in a spiral that can change lives. At home, at school and in the community.
This article is part of a series on social solidarity and is a collaboration between Observador, Fundação “la Caixa” and BPI. The Surf.Art project, by Pressley Ridge, received funding of 40 thousand euros, within the framework of the 2021 edition of the Children’s Prize. It was one of the 82 projects selected since 2019 (among 491 applications) among initiatives that seek to break the cycle of poverty, facilitate the development and empowerment of children and adolescents, and promote the family as the axis of socio-educational action. Private non-profit institutions can apply for the 2022 edition until June 27.
Source: Observadora
