Surf for the Kids; from Bonaire to Curaçao for Kinderoorden Brakkeput
WILLEMSTAD - The wind forecast is "extremely good", so it's happening: the extreme fundraiser Surf for the Kids. A group of kitesurfers will depart from Bonaire on Saturday morning for a non-stop crossing to Curaçao. They are raising awareness and collecting funds for Kinderoorden Brakkeput.
"It has never been done before, but we think it's possible," said initiator Kim Matroos of Awa Salu Kiteboarding, looking ahead to the island crossing. "We estimate it will take us four hours. It will definitely be extremely challenging. But that pales in comparison to the challenges some kids in Curaçao face. We are privileged and we want to give back to children who do not have these opportunities."
Kinderoorden Brakkeput
At Kinderoorden Brakkeput, boys between the ages of 6 and 18 reside who, due to various circumstances, cannot live at home. Matroos said, "With Surf for the Kids, we are raising money to fund sports equipment and activities for them. Without administrative costs or other deductions, the money is used for that purpose."
Renovating the sports field, purchasing sports equipment, and hiring a sports teacher to give the children weekly sports lessons are on the wish list. "The boys go to school every day, but it's nice and important for them to be able to do sports afterwards," said Raymond Gericho, director of the internment at Brakkeput Ariba. In addition, there is a great need for more structural support, to accommodate even more children and provide better and more intensive psychological guidance.
"Of course, we want to solve all these problems," said Emanuel Quintero, co-initiator of Surf for the Kids. "But that is beyond our control and is the responsibility of the government. It breaks my heart to see how these boys and many girls in Curacao are growing up. With our fundraiser, we also want to draw attention to this. They are all 'our' children and they deserve a good life and a bright future."
Sports can certainly contribute to that. Sports are healthy and bring joy; they inspire, connect people, and help them face other challenges in life. The challenge for the surfers will begin on Saturday morning at Atlantis Beach on Bonaire and end at Jan Thiel. The idea originated during Surf for the Roses, organized by the same group. As part of Ride for the Roses, more than forty surfers attempted to cross from Curacao to Klein Curacao. There was no open registration for Surf for the Kids. Since this is even more extreme and farther, surfers were personally invited. A rescue boat will accompany the group.
Sponsor & support
Jan Sofat Marina, AFAS, Jibe City Bonaire, Delfin Beach Resort Bonaire, Awa Salu Kiteboarding, Kitesurf Klein Curacao, LB Constructie, EZair, and Bernina support the Surf for the Kids initiative. The organization hopes that more businesses and individuals will come forward to support the event. In addition to financial contributions, other sports-related contributions are also welcome. For example, Zanzibar invites the boys and supervisors of Kinderoorden Brakkeput for a beach day with a beach tennis clinic. Irie Tours takes them on a sunset snorkeling tour on the catamaran.
Matroos says, "Ideally, we don't want to limit ourselves to just the boys of Kinderoorden Brakkeput because others deserve it just as much. This summer there will be a soccer tournament between different children's homes. Who can help us with new balls, soccer shirts, and nice prizes to give out there?"