CHARITABLE trust Children of the Sea will now have weekly lunch packs, transport assistance, First Aid training opportunities for its members and participation support for five children from nearby Sanasana Village in Sigatoka.
This is after the trust received a year-long support from the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa to help children access surf, ocean-based learning and leadership development at the Natadola Beach.
The initiative is supported by the Grand Pacific Hotel Suva and the Holiday Inn Suva through their Cup of Kindness Coffee sale.
IHG Hotels & Resorts regional general manager Fiji and Pacific Lachlan Walker said the initiative also supported IHG Hotels & Resorts’ journey to responsible business planning, which had encouraged hotels to make a positive difference for people, communities and the planet.
For the resort, that commitment begins locally, through practical action that helps young people feel safe, supported and inspired by the ocean around them.
Meanwhile, Children of the Sea co-founder Lea Chin said this partnership would help the program continue to create consistent opportunities for children.
‘At Children of the Sea, surfing is the starting point, but the impact goes much further,’ Ms Chin said in a statement.
‘The children are learning teamwork, water confidence, communication and care for the ocean.
‘They are also building friendships and discovering what they are capable of.’
Children of the Sea, founded by Inia Nakalevu and Ms Chin, uses surfing as a pathway for social change, helping young people stay active, build friendships, develop teamwork and communication skills, and strengthen their connection to the ocean.
The program began in September 2024 with four boys and has since grown to include 10 girls and 13 boys aged six to 16.
A young participant from Children of the Sea carries his surfboard along Natadola Beach. Picture: SUPPLIED
