Ntando Msibi went from street kid to pro surfer thanks to the organisation ‘Surfers Not Street Children’. He has just embarked on a trip to surf the world
Ntando Msibi became a street child after he lost both his parents, he was sniffing glue by the age of 9. Thankfully he found ‘Surfers Not Street Children’, it completely changed his life. Now Ntando is 19 and on the fast track to becoming a pro surfer.
The ‘Surfers Not Street Children’ have a home for the children enrolled in their programme, this is where Ntando has spent his last 10 years.
He finished 17th at World Junior Champs in California in 2015 where he has represented his country, South Africa for the second time (in Ecuador in 2014). Ntando has finished consistently in the top 3 in his age group in South Africa as a junior over the last few years. Ntando has also become a much loved sports figure in South Africa, having won South African Junior Sportsperson of the Year in 2014.
Ntando has flown to California to compete and surf there, he then plans to visit other surf spots around the world. He hopes to meet with potential sponsors and to test his skills at some of the most challenging surf destinations around the world.
Surfers Not Street Children is managing him through this process in order to explore every opportunity, provide advice, care and love where needed and to ensure he has a back-up plan.
As an ambassador for Surfers Not Street Children, Ntando is aiming to raise awareness around the phenomenon of street children. The director of the organisation started a crowdfunding campaign to help raise money to pay for some of his travel and expenses. If they go over the target and raise more funds than needed, the extra money will go to funding the other kids at the organisation.
He is an inspiration to other street children and is committed to giving them hope too. The other kids back at Surfers Not Street Children in Durban are so proud of him.
If you would like to help out you can check the crowdfunding page here.