A Personal Invite to Give Back in the Mentawai

Hello!

I have some exciting and for me very important news I would like to share with you.

Since my very first trip to the Mentawai I have always been inspired to want to give something back.

Hopefully some of our valued clients and long time admirers of the region will be equally excited and passionate about helping too.

The Mentawai Islands in Indonesia are indisputably our prime surf travel destination, absolutely loved by all our staff and clients for the sheer number of quality, consistent world-class set ups. We are so proud to represent our list of hand-picked, extremely reputable surf charters and surf resorts in the much-loved region and send hundreds of stoked surfers there every season.

Beyond the world-class waves, the islands are home to friendly, hospitable locals, pristine jungle, beaches, and crystal clear waters.

However, there is another side to the Mentawai Islands. The local people are some of the poorest and most disadvantaged in Indonesia, with little access to such basic needs that we all take for granted – like health services and education. Both in the short, medium and no doubt long term, the people and the environment of this stunning area are facing massive ongoing challenges. Tourism in many ways offers a way out of the poverty cycle for locals, and the opportunity to develop sustainable initiatives.

In February 2014, The Perfect Wave partnered up with A Liquid Future providing financial support and materials, as well as playing an active role in the programs and the communities. A year later, we are very excited to announce the opening of our multifunctional community learning centre in Tuapejat. The centre provides a free service for local Mentawai kids aged 6 through to adults teaching English, conservation and of course surfing.

Another amazing new initiative we are aligning with is the Waves4Water program being roll out in the Islands by a local Manly grom Winter Vincent. Winter has already raised an amazing US$3,000 to roll out filters in the Siberut region. Winter and family personally delivered and implemented the filters last year. Winter recently launched SURF TO SCHOOL, a great new initiative whereby Australian schools run individual surf-themed mufti days creating a beach and surf atmosphere with the Aloha spirit.

I want to personally invite you to come over and join us next month to launch both initiatives in the Mentawai Islands and lend a hand and put back into the region we all love so dearly. (download the info material HERE) My family and the Vincent family will be travelling to the Islands on February 26, 2015 for 7 days to launch the learning centre and roll out the new water tanks and filters across a few local villages. We have space for 4 caring clients to come over and help us deliver the supplies for the centre and dig in and help install water tanks and roll out the Waves4Water filters. The proceeds of the trip cost will be used for supplies required, however we totally understand that getting away for a week at such late notice is not always possible. So maybe you could organise a mufti day at your school or can assist financially to help with the costs of these programmes? All assistance will of course be well received.

Please just go to either webpage to find out about each programme and the Volunteer trip in February – A Liquid Future or SURF TO SCHOOL or check out the videos of Winter helping last year at Kandui – the video on top of this letter.

Jamie Gray

The Perfect Wave CEO

DOWNLOAD THE INFO MATERIALS FOR THE TRIP HERE