Project: As part of its global crews campaign, Converse aimed highlight, celebrate and promote street crews whose friendships have a positive effect on each other and their communities. These are young people who are create their own paths while influencing peers, sub-cultures and trends for the better.
Brief: In South Africa we had to find unique crews who are channeling that positive spirit of rebellion by creating friendships that drive culture, trends and conversations while making change in their communities individually and a as collective.
Surfers Not Street Children has been working with vulnerable children and young adults since 2012. Recognising the intrinsic therapeutic value of surfing, the staff – made up of trained professionals and trained former street children – combine learning to surf with mentorship and psychosocial care.
The goal is to empower the children it works with to leave the streets behind for good and become independent and self-sustainable, supporting individuals even when they have found employment to ensure that they don’t see themselves at risk again.
In this film, the former street children and now surfing brothers who met at the surfing housing shelter in KZN reassure one another that they will never walk alone or face the fears without support. The are true champions who overcame the hard street life through surfing, mentorship and education. Many are now working professionals, award winning surfers and positive role models in their communities and other children living in the street.
Agency: Joe Public United
Client: Converse SA.
