Liberian Surfer Appeal

EARN STRIPES: A Mami-Wata-fied artist's impression of the clubhouse in Liberia. Photo Supplied

With the support of Masekela, who was born in New York while his dad was in exile and started surfing in California, African surfing brand Mami Wata has initiated a campaign to raise funds for the ‘Harper Sliders’.

They want to build a clubhouse in Harper, an isolated town in the south of the war-torn country, to provide a safe place for youth to meet and participate in surfing and skills programmes. Surfing has been booming in Liberia, and has fast become a symbol of rehabilitation and redemption from violence, poverty and conflict.

Masekela, who mentors at-risk youth in the US for his non-profit sports organisation Stoked, was recently in South Africa partly to pledge his support for the Liberian project. Since the introduction of surf therapy in Harper by Cape Town-based Waves For Change in 2017, the beach has become a community-owned safe space, with more children and adults getting involved every day.

GOING LEFT: With waves like this on your doorstep, who wouldn't learn to surf? Photo Supplied

The Harper Sliders surf club will be the focal point for mental health services that previously have been stigmatised and under-resourced. Now the community can have a shared space to bond and learn new skills.

As part of their commitment to be a ‘force for good’ in Africa, Mami Wata has created a limited-edition ‘Harper Sliders’ capsule collection ranging from humble thank-you postcards, to exclusive apparel and hand-crafted surfboards and skateboards that can only be purchased by supporting the Kickstarter campaign.

Pledges range from R100, which will get you a collectible post card from Harper Sliders and Mami Wata, to R100,000, which will give two lucky individuals the opportunity to join an 11 day Waves for Change trip to Harper, Liberia with Mami Wata. The Mami Wata’s Harper Sliders Club House Kickstarter campaign ends on 4 May 2019.

Please pledge your support here.

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