Share:
In the small Central African island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe, SOMA Surf is making waves – literally and figuratively – by empowering young African women through surf therapy. As a Grassroots365 funding recipient of the Olympism365 Innovation Hub – a collaboration between the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Beyond Sport and Women Win, they are contributing to long-term sustainable development through sport. Facilitated by Women Win, the Grassroots365 Innovators are tackling hyper-local challenges with an emphasis on equitable access to resources.
THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF SURF THERAPY
SOMA (Surfistas Orgulhosas na Mulher de África [Proud Women Surfers of Africa]) is raising a generation of confident young women through surf therapy. The intervention combines the physical activity of surfing with structured activities to improve social skills and mental and physical health. It isn’t just about learning to ride the waves; it’s about learning life lessons through a sport that demands patience, resilience and an acceptance of what lies beyond one’s control. It helps the women and girls overcome trauma and can offer a sense of freedom and confidence that ripples through their lives.
SOMA’s innovative approach intends to disrupt cycles of gender equality through holistic development. Its mission is to support African women to become more independent, productive, leaders in the community and champions for change. Therefore, SOMA believes that it’s necessary to start with young girls, their families, schools and community to enact real impact.
One of the most profound transformations surfing provides is a shift in perspective shares Founder and President Francisca Sequeira. “As the Portuguese writer José Saramago once said: ‘You have to leave the island to see the island’. For many, surfing represents their first opportunity to leave their small community, offering them a fresh perspective on both their surroundings and themselves. Being in the ocean, alone, facing the waves, becomes a unique moment of freedom and reflection. This space allows them to develop a more balanced, healthy and strong mindset to cope with their reality.”
Through their involvement in SOMA Surf, girls are breaking historical barriers. In 2020, its participants became the first group of women ever to surf in their country, an experience which serves as a powerful symbol of personal agency: they can rewrite narratives, challenge norms and demand equal opportunities and rights – not just in the water, but in every aspect of their lives. Surf therapy is empowering them to confront their fears, triggering a movement that allows them to return to their communities as stronger voices for change.
Limited participation in the sport, caused by the fear of water and the ocean, is one of the main contributing factors to why it took so long for the country to have its first group of women surfers. In São Tomé and Príncipe, nearly half of women and girls do not know how to swim and many see the ocean as dangerous and intimidating. SOMA Surf takes a gradual approach through its programs. The girls are introduced to the water through games, gradually progressing to techniques like floating and swimming. They’re shown videos and testimonials of other women surfing to educate them on the ocean’s power as a space for joy, confidence and personal growth.
“Overcoming the fear of water is essential in a country where the sea plays such a central role in daily life. When we introduced surf therapy, 94% of the girls expressed a preference for the river over the sea, seeing the ocean as a dangerous unknown, while the river represented a place for therapy—where they sing and bond. The ocean is where they gather to wash clothes and feel physically exhausted after hours of work. So, we teach them how to connect with the ocean, giving them the opportunity to heal through the waves,” said Sequeira.
ADDRESSING KEY CHALLENGES
Sequeira shared that the barriers São Tomeans women and girls face include gender inequality, limited access to education, poor mental health and a lack of menstrual health education. In response, SOMA Surf has designed its programs to create new pathways to directly tackle these areas:
- Gender Inequality: Over half of girls believe women should obey their husbands, regardless of disagreement. SOMA encourages girls to challenge these beliefs.
- Menstrual Health: This is the most pressing issue for many girls in country. Before SOMA’s intervention, 73.5% of girls used cloth or towels as their only form of menstrual hygiene. Through education and the provision of proper menstrual products this statistic has reduced to zero.
- Mental Health: High levels of poverty, gender-based violence and the shortage of mental health professionals in the country contributes to poor mental health among women. SOMA’s program teaches emotional regulation and coping strategies to help girls manage mental health challenges.
- Education: Many girls lack access to quality education and career opportunities. SOMA provides academic support and mentorship to keep girls in school, offering them a space to study.
SOMA Surf’s success also relies on strong community engagement, particularly in the involvement of parents. The organization maintains close relationships with families through bi-weekly home visits, ensuring that parents are supportive of their daughter’s participation in the program. When challenges arise – whether related to school, home life or emotional wellbeing – mentors are on hand to guide the girls and offer support.
In addition to individual support, SOMA Surf hosts community meetings that include parents, fostering open communication and providing a platform for feedback. This strengthens the bond between SOMA Surf and the community, ensuring the program remains responsive to the needs of the girls and their families.
ACCELERATING GENDER EQUALITY
A significant moment for SOMA Surf was the creation of the first-ever women’s surf competition in São Tomé and Príncipe, which allowed women to compete alongside men for the same prizes. The event sent a clear message: women have the same potential as men, not just in surfing but in all aspects of life. SOMA Surf also offers a one-year intensive program that combines surf training, academic support and empowerment activities. By teaching girls about leadership, emotional intelligence and their rights, the program equips them with personal and professional development skills. Moreover, the organization has established the first women’s surf club in the country, providing a safe and inclusive space for girls to study, learn and connect.
“In all these actions, we are creating a more inclusive society where women are given the tools to succeed. We aim to accelerate gender equality by showing girls that they can succeed in any field, including traditionally male-dominated areas like surf,” said Sequeira. “To further these efforts, we actively engage boys and men in our programs, fostering conversations about respect, gender equality and mental health. By involving the broader community in these discussions, we create a ripple effect of positive change, which helps to shift cultural perceptions and challenge harmful gender norms.”
CREATING LASTING WAVES IN SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE AND BEYOND
“Our model is 100% replicable,” shares Sequeira on SOMA’s mission to expand across Africa. The organization is currently testing a model that would allow it to adapt its program to environments where conditions don’t work for traditional surfing. It uses SUP (stand up paddleboarding) therapy, proving that with creativity and determination you can create opportunities for empowerment and social change. “This initiative is a key step in making our model scalable, proving that with creativity and determination, we can empower women and girls even in places where traditional surfing isn’t possible.”
The organization hopes to leverage the Olympism365 Innovation Hub to connect with other innovators, expand its reach and get insights from other innovation, community-based solutions. “The Hub is helping us refine our impact assessment strategies, improve our community engagement and connect with funders and partners who are aligned with our mission. This partnership will allow us to expand SOMA Surf and reach more girls, enabling us to continue creating lasting change for women and girls in São Tomé and Príncipe for now and in the future in Africa!”
Share:
