EMpower grantee partner Waves for Change wins the Laureus Sport for Good Award!

Posted 15 February 2017 in EMpower News, Grantee Partner News   |   Share

On February 14th, Waves for Change was honored with the 2017 Laureus Sport for Good Award at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco! This prestigious award is won by an organization or individual who has used the power of sport to overcome violence, discrimination or disadvantage. Waves for Change is an EMpower grantee partner based in three communities in Cape Town, using surfing to engage the hardest-to-reach and most vulnerable youth in their communities and recruit them into programs that address trauma, help them build resilience and support them in their educational and professional aspirations.

Tim and Monwabisi from the organization were thrilled to accept the award in Monaco and even took a selfie (pictured here) with athletes such as Usain Bolt and Simone Biles! Waves for Change thanked Laureus for the incredible recognition of their work, commenting:

“The Sport for Good Award is for people or organizations who use the power of sport to overcome violence, discrimination or disadvantage, and we’re beyond stoked to have received it!”

EMpower’s current grant to Waves for Change is supporting daily after-school surf therapy programming to improve the mental well-being of 370 youth who have been exposed to violence and abuse in three of Cape Town’s most violent communities, Masiphumelele, Lavender Hill and Khayelitsha.

Well done Waves for Change!