Remember how excited you were to return to school after winter holiday? 

Can you imagine what it must feel like for the students going back to school now!? After months of delay and no certainty of returning.  

Unfortunatly, in SA the covid crisis has effected students greatly. We have lost over 27% of student enrolment in South African across the country.  With home life being extremely difficult, and wifi and technical devices unavailable, schools struggled to keep trak and continue with education.  

Against all statistics, Rushaan is starting his first day of school. We are so proud of him #alephscholorshipfund 

On the 25th of January, Beira, Mozambique got hit by Cyclone Eloise. This had a devastating impact on the local communities. Hundreds of houses were fully destroyed, others badly damaged, and the city was flooded. Because of the floodwaters, there is also a high risk of cholera outbreaks and malaria.

Storms of this severity are unfortunately nothing new to Mozambique. Two years ago, Cyclone Idai caused catastrophic damage to large portions of the country.  Aleph Surf partnered with Groundswell aid and other local organizations, actioned thousands of dollars of aid in the form of food packets and water filters. Thankfully, those filters are still in use and are providing clean drinking water in this difficult time.

We are partnering up with Young Life Mozambique  to coordinate the relief locally in Beira. Groundswell Aid is helping to raise money to assist the victims of Cyclone Eloise. The need is for food parcels and cholera kits, and to repair and replace roofs that have been destroyed. 

Would you consider a special gift to support the people of Beira, Mozambique? A donation of any amount will help those in need.

Our goal is to raise funds for 100 food parcels, help 10 household with a new panels and and 10 with entire new roof structures. Please donate through the Groundswell aid platform here

“It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord”  Lamentations 3:26  

As we ponder this verse, it resonates with us and we want to apply it to this year. We are not making any major plans or any major commitments, as we are still in a time of great uncertainty, but we know that the Lord is faithful. He will be with us no matter what the circumstances may be. So let us wait, pray and take a pensive approach to the year ahead.

We are still in a lockdown in SA with beaches, schools and public places closed off. We are also in a curfew from 9pm – 6am with mandatory mask wearing while in public places – if you are caught not wearing a mask you will be fined, given a criminal record and some possible jail time. Yeah, freedom is a notion these days.Covid and the Lockdowns are doing a number on many. It is wearing on people’s mental and spiritual health. A recent article quoted Dr Adrian James, a psychiatrist, saying: “‘This is going to have a profound effect on mental health,” James said. “It is probably the biggest hit to mental health since the second world war. It doesn’t stop when the virus is under control and there are few people in hospital. You’ve got to fund the long-term consequences.”

For so many of us, surfing is so much more than just riding waves and having fun. It is our time to connect with each other during our sessions, grow by overcoming our fears and spending time in nature away from mind-numbing tv, social media and not to mention the high alcohol and drug abuse sweeping through the youth.

We need to get kids and people outside and interacting again- especially in nature.

This year we will be taking youth for short term camping trips, mountain hiking trails and coastal walks. We know and believe that God has given us the greatest anti depressant – the outdoors and we need to utilize it. Time in nature, away from the ‘covid bubbles’, away from TV and social media can only do us good. It will be a time to connect with our Creator and each other again.

Let me share an anecdote on this written by Judith Galblum Pex:

In Hebrew, the word ‘nofesh’ means rest, recreation or holiday. Interestingly, the  root letters are the same as the word ‘nefesh’ which means soul. Jewish scholars also translate the  ‘nefesh’ as “the essence of life” or “state of being alive”. Whereas the word ‘shvita’, in connection with the word Shabbat for rest, ‘nofesh’ implies leisure in a positive sense – a creative self discovery.

We found this to be such a blessing to us. As we pursue this essence of life, we discover ourselves. It gives our motto ‘restoration through recreation’ a whole new meaning and depth.

Remember to take 2021 one day at a time. More than this we do not know, but for today, we will bless the Name of the Lord.

-Rehgert van Zyl is the Founder & Director of Aleph Surf International 

A classic destination for visiting American surfers, Baja’s famed right pointbreaks and mysto reefs pick up south-west swells from May to September and north-west swells from October to April. Dominant winds blow from the north-west but winter offshores are common. The inlet-riven coastline conspires to block, shadow and wrap swells into a favourable wind, in equal measure. Regional highlights such as the Seven Sisters (pointbreaks) are a regular footer’s paradise. Water temperature varies between 11 to 20°C or 52 to 68°F. Pioneered in the 1940s the region has always been seen as an accessible but wild excursion from its northern neighbour. Despite its popularity as a surfing destination, regular travel warnings are put in place as hold-ups and confrontations between local police and drugs gangs become more common

One of the greatest motivators that keeps us going as an organization and movement is when we see potential turn into accomplishment. We love to enable. In fact we thrive on it. We have seen incredible fruits over the years with students we have carefully selected and intentionally invested into.

This year we have selected two students: Indiphile and Rushaan, whom we are partnering with for the next 5 years. Aleph Surf commits to pay for their entire school fees for the duration of their high school career. Both students, who hail from our afternoon surf program, have shown exemplary character, dedication and academic accomplishments.  They have all the potential in the world but sometimes the simple things for some are not so simple for others.

A huge obstacle has been their socio-economic reality. Funding for a great school is out of reach. This in turn has a domino effect on all of their other plans in life.

For many of us reading this, education has come relatively easy. Loving parents, a safe family home, money for food and clothing are just a given, but for Rushaan, it has been a different story. With absentee parents, his grandparents stepped up to take on the responsibility. Unfortunately this year, his grandfather fell ill and grandmother passed away. Not having the necessary funds he had to attend the state sponsored school which has not been in operation this year. Left to fend for himself, Rushaan would fade away in the ocean of despair many find themselves in.

But God has made a way for him.

His loving aunt and uncle took him in with open arms and Aleph Surf is helping to lighten their load as a family. Through our scholarship program we can help Rushaan achieve his dreams. He has been accepted into the Grade 8 program at Nico Malan High School.

For both Indiphile and Rashaan, this is a great achievement.   It is a prestigious school in our region which has produced stellar athletes, business minds and community leaders.  We are so excited to see them grow in this new season of life. The new school year begins January 2021. 

Let us continue to help enable others in the most wonderful ways!