Surf therapy, which spans projects from Sierra Leone to California and Trinidad, is seen by advocates as a compelling solution to help address mental health issues among young people. "This is about creating a different world for them. "But we don't ask questions if they don't want to talk," adds Villarán. One of the boys has turned up for lessons with a black eye a couple of times. Some girls have told members of the team that they are victims of sexual violence. Some parents are addicted to drugs and alcohol, he says. Many of the children in the Alto Peru program face challenging circumstances, according to Villarán, who was born and raised in the neighborhood and knows the families. Lima's surf therapy initiative is run by Alto Peru, a local nonprofit named after the notoriously dangerous, marginalized neighborhood in the south of the city where Villarán – its 41-year-old founder – and all of the trainee surfers come from.įounder Diego Villarán with kids in a playground built by Alto Peru, the nonprofit group that he heads up. It's not just a surfer's pipe dream either – studies have shown that surf therapy can foster self-esteem, fight off depression and even help to heal post-traumatic stress disorder. The wider goal is to create a space for young children to express themselves carefree, to help teach them how to process their emotions and to create positive social connections. The idea is not only about catching waves to tap into the proven mental health benefits of physical exercise. This Peruvian surf school is part of a wave of community-based projects around the world that uses a perhaps surprising method to help kids: surf therapy. Boran Bumovich Hignio, a 7-year-old surfer, gets help with his wetsuit from Diego Villarán, who founded the local surf school, and other staffers.
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