b'OCEAN MINDThe boy arrived at Ocean Mind with no self-esteem and fewIt was created by Rachael Parker, a youth worker for more friends. He was struggling to engage with those around him,than a decade who has been open about her own mental at school, in the community, everywhere.health challenges.His parents turned to Ocean Mind, a not for profit dedicatedHaving discovered surfing and the positive energy of the to helping young people struggling with mental healthocean for herself in 2015, Rachael tapped into The Wave issues, social isolation and disabilities in their lives byProject, a UK program that brought surfing to young people offering mentors who can teach them how to surf. in need, as a way to push their boundaries while offering It seemed an unlikely plan. When this young person arrivedcaring and specific mentoring. Ocean Mind was born. on the beach, he would not make eye contact with anybody,You need to understand that just leaving the house can be and vowed he would only ride his body board. Ocean Mindsdaunting for these young people, Jake said. When they program co-ordinator Jake Janson said that was fine.first arrive on the beach, they often wont talk to us, their In week two, the boy agreed to try just two waves on amentor or each other. We have to do trust-building games surfboard, lying flat. In week three, he caught a wave andbefore we can go near a G-board. managed to get to his feet. And he yelled in triumph. All theJake started as a volunteer mentor and is now a full-time Ocean Mind volunteers who had been quietly watching hisprogram co-ordinator, helping drive the charitys expansion, journey cheered wildly and he was inundated by high-fives.including its evidence-based acceptance protocol and He said to his mentor, over and over: I did it, I did it! follow-up care. Rachael wanted something in youth work Later, that week, Jake received a message from the boyswhere the therapy was in nature rather than going through mother saying the school had contacted her in amazement.the established systems. Weve had 120 boys and girls The boy had drawn a large picture of a wave and writtenthrough so far and some incredible stories.about how much he loved surfing and the ocean. It was theTen young people at a time, up to 18 years of age, are most engaged he had ever been in the classroom.accepted into seven programs a year, and matched with All because of a foam surfboard latching onto somevolunteer mentors. Each program runs for six weeks and whitewater rolling into Torquay beach and a lot of heartthen the participants are invited into surf club, where they from Ocean Minds crew. can join Ocean Minds avid graduates surf community that is so popular it now runs three weeks per month. You can see why the Newsboys Foundation chose OceanJake said he adored watching the graduates become Mind as a new recipient of funding in 2018. Ocean Mindunofficial mentors to younger participants, as they grew into has been doing some amazing work on Victorias westernOcean Minds surf-loving community. surf coast for three years now, introducing troubled young people to the life-changing freedom, soul enrichment andPlans for the immediate future include growing across sheer joy of riding waves.Victoria and then Australia, as well as piloting a program for youths having trouble transitioning to high school.12NEWSBOYS FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2019'