SurfAid International News
Source: SurfAid International
www.surfaidinternational.org-

Dr. Dave Jenkins Honoured as SIMA's inaugural Humanitarian of the Year
The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) Humanitarian Fund has honoured SurfAid CEO and Founder Dr. Dave Jenkins as their inaugural Humanitarian of the Year at the annual Liquid Nation Ball fundraiser in California, USA. 

Surf industry executives and professional surfers gathered at the oceanfront home of Fernando and Vicky Aguerre in La Jolla to honour Dr. Dave and to help raise approximately $230,000 to be distributed among 14 surf-related humanitarian organizations, including SurfAid.
 
“Dr. Dave’s commitment to his work and improving the lives of others is second to none,” Dick Baker, SIMA Humanitarian Fund president, said. “He has helped to bring a greater awareness of global humanitarian issues to the tight-knit surf community. Dr. Dave has shown surfers that while we are fortunate to enjoy the amazing waves and exotic locations the world has to offer – such as the Mentawai Islands – it is important for surfers to give back to the people who share their beaches with us. It is an honour to celebrate the efforts and triumphs of Dr. Dave, and even a greater honour to call him a member of the surf industry tribe.”

SurfAid International Delivers Clean Water to Nias Communities
SurfAid International is delivering clean water for the first time to some Nias communities, off Indonesia’s North Sumatran coast, after completing 99 water projects on the island which was devastated by the March 2005 earthquake.

The earthquake, measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale, greatly affected the water supply on Nias as it lifted coral reefs on the west and south coasts by one to three metres, raising the level of many wells above the water table.  

Community wells were also destroyed or badly damaged. SurfAid undertook a joint Watsan (water and sanitation) program with UNICEF and NZAID, which started in 2007 to assist in rebuilding the damaged wells.

“Awesome, though much overused these days, is really the only single word that can describe the achievements of the Watsan team,” SurfAid Program Director Alan Rogerson said. “There are now communities who have clean water for the first time in more than three years, and other communities who have it for the first time in their history.”

About International Surfing Association
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding and surfriding. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964 and the Junior World Championships since 1980. 

ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of over 50 countries on six continents. Its headquarters are located in San Diego, California. It is presided by Fernando Aguerre, first elected in 1994 in Rio, and re-elected six times since.  The ISA's four Vice Presidents are Alan Atkins (Australia), Robin de Kock (South Africa), Maile Aguerre (Hawaii) and Mike Gerard (USA).

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