Surfing Therapy Sees 40% Surge in Aid Requests Since War
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Israeli nonprofit "Surfers Without Borders" has seen a 40% increase in aid requests from soldiers and October 7th survivors since the war began. The organization offers a rehabilitation program combining surfing with personal support to build resilience and a sense of community. The program aims to restore participants' feelings of security, belonging, and hope, without time limits.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Surfers Without Borders reports a 40% rise in aid requests from soldiers and survivors since the war.
- The nonprofit offers a rehabilitation program combining surfing with personal support.
- The program aims to restore participants' sense of security, belonging, and hope.
- Surfing is used as a tool to build confidence and encourage re-engagement with life.
- The organization emphasizes a continuous, non-bureaucratic approach to rehabilitation.
The Israeli nonprofit "Surfers Without Borders" has reported a 40% increase in requests for assistance over the past year, according to exclusive data. This rise in demand for support comes even as the intensity of fighting has decreased and a return to routine is observed. The organization is specifically addressing the ongoing struggles faced by soldiers and survivors of the October 7th attacks.
In response to this need, "Surfers Without Borders" offers a continuous rehabilitation framework that combines surfing with personal guidance, discussion groups, and activities aimed at strengthening mental resilience. These activities take place year-round at several beaches across Israel, with two to three sessions held weekly. Each participant is paired with a volunteer surf instructor to foster a consistent, supportive relationship and allow for progress at an individual pace.
The organization describes progress through everyday moments, noting participants who begin to leave their homes, initiate new connections, and even meet for surfing outside of scheduled sessions. This process gradually transforms the program into a community, providing participants with ongoing connection and a stable place to return to over time.
"For us, surfing is not the goal, but the tool," stated Axelrod, a spokesperson for the organization. "The real goal is to restore people's sense of security, belonging, and hope." He emphasized the program's lack of bureaucracy and time limits, stating, "We don't believe rehabilitation should have an expiration date." The physical exertion, time in nature, and social connection involved in surfing are seen as key components of the therapy, helping participants build confidence and re-engage with life and others.
