Frank Solomon is changing the lives of underprivileged kids, offering them a safe space to learn about the ocean and a brighter future filled with opportunity!
Hout Bay, South Africa – Frank Solomon set up the Sentinel Ocean Alliance with the hope that training underprivileged kids in ocean safety skills, will help them find future employment as lifeguards. He works with the youth of Hout Bay teaching skills such as surfing, lifesaving and ocean education.
‘The Sentinel Ocean Alliance was set up to create Ocean based opportunities for the underprivileged youth of Hout Bay. These opportunities are economic, social and educational, via instilling a love of the Ocean and the Ocean environment. These opportunities are brought to life via disciplines such as surfing, lifesaving, ocean education etc. Within Hout Bay, we have a beautiful opportunity to integrate youth from diverse communities around these activities.’
The organisation recently received a new container to house their equipment as well as over 300 indigenous plants which they are planting up around the back of the container. They have been working on revamping the area where they meet up.
Apart from their organisation, Sentinel Ocean Alliance have also set up the lifesaving club right next door. They also actively work to recycle as much plastic as possible. Being so close to the ocean and beach, they see the problems of plastic pollution first hand.
‘Our aim is to set up a Safe space where kids from these areas can come down and have access to the ocean. Whether it is surfboards or Surf lifesaving we also hope to run some recycling programs from the site and help educate the community about the dangers of pollution and single-use plastics in our oceans. This is an organisation that needs local community support through donations of old and used equipment such as wetsuits, surfboards, swim caps or anything that will help.’
If you would like to assist Frank in helping these underprivileged kids learn a deeper love for the ocean, you can support via their Facebook page here. If you can also volunteer your time if you are in the area.
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