Valpo Surf Project Mid-Year Impact Report

Your generous support in the first half of 2024 has fueled the continued growth and success of VSP’s programs. Student enrollment, programming activities, and mentorship hours have all significantly increased, reaching new milestones. These gains have greatly impacted our students, enhancing their teamwork, self-confidence, responsibility, and social skills.  VSP programming will serve them throughout their personal, academic and professional lives, nurturing the next generation of leaders and building stronger, more resilient communities. This work would not be possible without your support, and we are deeply grateful for your commitment to empowering VSP students to become their best selves.

Additional Highlights

• 2024 marks the 10-year anniversary of our work in Montedónico, Cerro Toro, and Laguna Verde. Many of the new students enrolling in VSP are related to past participants and graduates of VSP. This highlights the impact of VSP over time in the families and neighborhoods we have been working with for over 10 years.

• VSP participated in a regional event where our work was highlighted for creating young leaders. Kids from across the city, including three of our students from Laguna Verde, were selected to participate in leadership workshops and connect with other young leaders from surrounding cities.

• Our Surf Coordinator, María Fernanda, and Surf Instructor, Kevin Oyárzun received the Water Safety and Rescue Certification from the International Surf Association. Following their certification, they collaborated with Water Safety Rescue Chile to train VSP staff and teachers from Laguna Verde Elementary School in water safety and rescue skills. Water safety is an important aspect of our surf program, not only to keep our students and team safe, but to pass on those same skills to VSP kids, helping them build confidence, autonomy, and leadership skills!

• Participation in GROM, our advanced surfing group, has been growing and now includes students from every neighborhood that we work in. In mid-February, the surf team took 11 GROM participants on a 3-day surf trip, “Surf Camp”, to the surf towns of Pichilemu and Puertecillo. This was the first trip of its kind where VSP students were able to surf multiple times a day, experience new waves, and step out of their comfort zones. Our kids were surfing the best waves of their lives and getting to spend quality time with each other and their mentors. Not only did they gain valuable surfing experience, but the trip also fostered autonomy, independence, and teamwork.