Through the healing power of surf therapy and the support of his community, Yannick transformed his deepest insecurities and challenges into unstoppable confidence, becoming an inspiring surf coach and leader dedicated to building a bright future.
Cape Town, South Africa (15 June 2026) – It’s Youth Month, and for organisations working to inspire and empower young people, it offers the perfect moment to reflect on the journeys of the young people in their programmes and how far they’ve come.
For the 9Miles Project, Yannick Swartbooi is one of those young people whose story is one of growth, resilience, and possibility.
When he first joined the Project four years ago as an artistic, shy young boy, Yannick had one main goal in mind: to work hard and make his family proud.
Four years later, while the dream has changed, the determination behind it never did.
Raised by a single mother in a household of five children, Yannick has faced many of the pressures that young people encounter every day: financial challenges, social pressures, self-doubt, and the constant temptation to settle for less than their potential.
But he kept showing up: He showed up for mentorship sessions, educational support, leadership training and surfing. And over time, something powerful happened. The shy young boy who once listed “insecurities” as one of his greatest challenges began discovering confidence in the ocean through surf therapy. Yannick found something bigger than a sport. He found purpose.
Today, Yannick is a matric learner at Strandfontein High School, a qualified surf coach, a leader among his peers, and a young man with his sights firmly set on building a future that stretches far beyond what many expected of him.
“Today, younger children in our programmes don’t just see Yannick as another participant. They see a coach. A mentor. A role model. Someone who has walked the same roads they walk every day and chosen a different direction,” 9Miles Project says.
Through dedication and hard work, Yannick completed the necessary training to become a qualified surf coach.
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Though a younger Yannick dreamed of art school, a new dream has taken shape. After matric, the young leader hopes to study entrepreneurship and one day own his own surf shop.
Not because he wants to sell surfboards. Because he wants to build something. Something that creates opportunities. Something that serves his community. Something that shows the next generation what is possible.
As Yannick prepares for his final school exams and his matric farewell, he stands on the edge of an exciting new chapter.
His journey with 9Miles just goes to show that behind every young person who succeeds, there is usually a village. There are mentors who believed, volunteers who showed up and supporters who donated.
“At 9Miles Project, we see hundreds of young people with dreams just as big as Yannick’s. Every day we provide educational support, mentorship, leadership development opportunities, and 700 meals to children, youth and communities across our programme sites.”
But none of it happens alone. To help rewrite more young people’s stories, visit the 9Miles Project website for more information or donate here.
Sources: 9Miles Project
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