4237 - Give and Surf

4237
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We are committed to empowering the local indigenous
communities of Bocas del Toro, Panama through education and
community development. As a volunteer-driven organization, we
aim to provide travelers from around the world with a meaningful
experience that has a positive impact in the community.
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2015, our 5th year in Panama, was a year to remember for us all at Give &
Surf! It is with overwhelming gratitude to share a snapshot of our best year yet.
What I find to be so amazing during a year of so much growth is that the
organization has still maintained its sense of family and connectedness among all
those involved. This has recently been elevated by putting a great deal of thought
and planning into the future of the organization and those it impacts.
The yesterdays of Give & Surf carried the same feeling of family, but lacked
the vision that has now set us on a track of sustainable growth. I often reflect on
this 5-year journey in amazement and think, “Wow there is no way we could have
done that without each and every member of the extended Give & Surf family.”
From helping our youngest preschoolers on and off the boat to completing our 12th
major construction project you, the reader, are what makes this possible through
sharing our story. Thank you for being part of our family & our success and for your
continued support of our organization.
With amazement,
Neil Christiansen
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Thank you to those individuals who are most committed to
Give & Surf and continue to help guide the future of the
organization and ensure its success
Ryan Croft
San Francisco, California
Co-Founder of Transit Screen
Elyse Eng
New York, New York
Hedgefund Trader
Gary & Marj Young
St. Simon’s Island, Georgia
CEO at Young & Associates
Henry Escudero &
Margaret Ann
Bocas Del Toro, Panama
Founders La Loma Jungle Lodge
Ruth Falquina
Playa Venao, Panama
Global Consultant and Brand &
Innovation Strategist
Thank you to those individuals who have gone above
& beyond in their support of Give & Surf and whose
continued involvement ensures the future success of
our organization & the communities we serve.
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Jungeun You
Elena Crespo
Juan David Isaac
Jenny Farhat
Kristen & Chris Mein Rick Robbins
Ada Roszkowska
Dave & Maddy Fehr
Lena Kazer
Melissa Grani
Dan Ferraro
Paki Gale
Wendy Hung
Jack Pichard
Whitney Mirts
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Education
is
Power
Patrocinador $3,000+
Promotor $500+
Education is Power
La Loma Jungle Lodge
Surf for Life
Sunshine Heroes Foundation
Students Without Borders Academy
Carl Von Mertens
Jungeun You
Robert & Carol Christiansen
Johnson & Johnson
Elyse Eng
Rotary Club of Attleboro
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Padrino $1,000+
Amigo $100+
The Nadel Family
ArchiTECH Solutions
Ken & Jenny Talentino
PriceSmart Panama
Melissa Grani & Paki Gale
VISSLA
VISSL
VUORI
Wendy Hung
Trond Einemo
Amy Johnson
David Kirk
David Rosenbaum
DW Investment Partners
Naima Bhana
David Frise
Dongwook Ko
Kim Meekyung
Rick Robbins
Bill & Karen Talentino
Chris & John Russo
Lynette Remund
Diane Young
Shane Harrison
Derek Smith
Megan Sandler
Paul Shaheen
Jack & Lee Travis
Robert Peach
Erin Riley
Lisbeth Warren
Ivan Hales
Panama Concierge
University of Arkansas Clinton
School of Public Service
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Give & Surf’s flagship program
continues to serve the youngest
members of the Bahia Roja and
Bahia Honda communities. Using
a Montessori-based approach to
education combined with the
support of our teachers and
volunteers, we provide
opportunities for our students,
ages 3-6, to learn and grow
through hands-on and experiential
learning. This early childhood
education program ensures that
students are provided with the
building blocks for future success
and have equal access to
schooling as their peers that live in
larger communities.
* Students who had an attendance rate of 70% or higher scored at
least 10 points or higher on their individual assessments
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Summer Camp
SOMP
Give & Surf offers
o
summer school classes
from December through February, focuses
on engaging students in a fun and creative
way. Volunteers develop lesson plans for
this 10 week program with different weekly
themes designed to further develop the
student’s understanding of the world.
Some example courses include:
photography, sports, arts & crafts, English
& more. Serves over 30 primary school
children, ages 6-12, from Bahia Roja and
Bahia Honda.
At the heart of Give & Surf, we seek to
enrich the lives of our youth by fostering
character development, encouraging
academic excellence, and creating a
sense of belonging. And our Surf Outreach
Mentorship Program does just that. SOMP
is offered three days a week, for youth
attending colegio grades from 7th -9th.
Students get the opportunity to surf
side-by-side with Give & Surf staff and
volunteers, then spend time working on
their English and homework.
“(Give & Surf) has helped me to learn how to
surf, and funded my studies at school. It's been
great. I've had the chance to surf in different
places like Paki Point, Carenero, and Black
Rock. I think my life is better since I started
surfing because it's a wonderful sport.”
- Gabriel, Student funded by Give & Surf
VOLUNTEERS:
Sarah Pyper Arizona, USA
Amy Johnson California, USA
The Obleda Family California, USA
Alicia Penczek California, USA
Keeley McWilliam, California USA
Cassidy Seckman California, USA
US
Maggie Andrews California, USA
Cat Pappas Florida, USA
Andrea Deventer New Jersey, USA
Troy Rusnack New Jersey, USA
Anna Nadler New Jersey, USA
Ryan Western New Jersey, USA
Lirra DeBorja New York, USA
Danielle & Greg Johnson New York, USA
Briana Olfano New York, USA
Giulietta Caruso New York, USA
Elyse Eng New York, USA
Samantha Voorhees Tennessee, USA
Griffin Hulkower Virginia, USA
Kristina Harris Washington DC, USA
Tiffany Edmundson Washington, USA
Nicholas Giombi Wisconsin, USA
Tina Ho Calgary, Canada
Christy Xie Toronto, Canada
Jack Jia Toronto, Canada
Francoise LePetit France
Iacovos Loizou, Greece
Vasilis Frangoulis, Greece
Marija Urumovska, Hungary
MIchele Tieghi, Italy
Risa Matsumoto, Japan
Diana Goncalves, Portugal
Carolina Goncalves, Portugal
Teresa Vale, Portugal
Jonas Eliassen, Switzerland
Anna Jenni, Switerland
Nicole Gerig Switzerland
Service Groups:
Surf for Life
Sustain the Stoke
Camby Community Church
Pacific Academy
Students Without Borders Academy
Marin Catholic High School
Sunshine Heroes Foundation
INTERNS:
Coby MacMaster, Arkansas, USA
Ada Roszkowska, New York, USA
Heather Durnford, Canada
Alvaro Masegosa, Canada
Tara Kelly, Vermon, USAt
Pilar Milam California, USA
US
Georgetown MBA Consulting Team:
Iain Robertson
Heather Kelly
Alex Leikin
Xiaoli Yu
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*Only 18% of Gnobe children ages 15-19 are educated past a 6th
grade level
*In the communities of Bahia Roja and Bahia Honda, the primary
reason for high dropout rate is the lack of affordable, reliable
transportation
“Give & Surf has allowed me to better support
myself by offering me a teaching job, and also
thanks to that job I have been able to fund my
college studies and successfully attain my college
degree. I think building a school was a gigantic
project and it was accomplished by Give & Surf, so
now I believe anything is possible.”
- Marialena, Assistant teacher at Escuelita and
Summer Camp
Give & Surf is proud to support
children’s education from
preschool through university. We
have continued to provide
transportation to dozens of local
middle & high school students so
that they can get to & from school
safely. In addition, we provide
scholarships for students to
pursue their high school diplomas
and university degrees. This is
done in partnership with Education
is Power and La Loma Jungle
Lodge
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Thanks to the generous donation of
the Sunshine Heroes Foundation,
Give & Surf has had the unique
opportunity to partner with the local
government in building the Sunshine
Community Center in Old Bank.
The center will serve all 3,000 members living in the Old Bank Community
through a wide array of programs and activities. The computer lab & educational
space will give children & adults the opportunity to learn computer skills, learn
English, receive tutoring & homework help, and develop new skills. The
playground and skate park offer a safe, supervised area for children to play and
serve as a gathering place for the community.
“I have a really great relationship with Give & Surf, and
it is very positive because they have helped me to
become a stronger community leader. They have
helped create big changes in the community, especially
with their education efforts for the youth. They are the
first international organization to work within our
community.”
- Ashburn Dixon, Local Representative for Give &
Surf
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Construction of the teacher's house on Solarte. By building a teacher's
house as requested by the Solarte community, we hope to improve the
teachers' attendance and increase their connectedness to the students and
families thus resulting in a high quality of education. This project is generously
being sponsored by Carl Von Mertens.
Two classroom addition in Bocas del Drago. We're excited to partner with
Surf for Life again this year to work in a new community. One hundred students
are currently crammed into a small 3 room public school and shed. Give & Surf
and Surf for Life are joining forces again to build a preschool classroom
(Jan/Feb) and a 5th grade classroom (May/June).
Expansion of our Bahia Roja preschool program. The Bahia Roja preschool
& kindergarten program will now be offered 5 days per week in the new classroom that was built in 2015.
More scholarships! In light of another organization discontinuing their scholarship program in 2016, Give & Surf is stepping up to the plate to expand its
scholarship program and plans to provide scholarships to 40 high school and
university students in the communities of Bahia Roja, Bahia Honda, Old Bank,
Carenero, Solarte, Bocas Town, and Bocas del Drago.
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