Hello from the Philippines! I’m Maddy (from California), creating this fundraiser for the youth of Guiwan Village, Siargao Island of the Philippines.

The purpose of this fundraiser is to support the construction and stocking of a community surf shack, along with other supplies needed to cultivate creativity and cultural exploration through arts and education for the local kids in Guiwan Village.

These initiatives aim to cultivate a supportive community environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive together! By empowering the youth of Guiwan Village through surfing, creativity, and community, our mission is to create a space for the kids to develop skills, engage in cultural exploration, and obtain nourishment through communal meals.

I encourage you to please consider donating, especially if you resonate with this project or my story, because even a small contribution can make a significant impact in this community!

Our goal is USD $1000 to support the construction supplies, labor costs, and surfing gear! I’ve broken down the numbers towards the end of this post. Please take just a couple minutes of your time to read more of my story and the kids of Guiwan!

After traveling for the past 5 months, I have finally found a place that is beginning to feel like home. I am currently staying in a bungalow nestled in the jungle in the southern part of Siargao Island. I am fortunate to spend hours each day in the ocean, where the waves meet the shore of Guiwan village.

On December 16th, 2021, Typhoon Odette (also known as Typhoon Rai) struck the Philippines, causing widespread devastation. The typhoon claimed the lives of hundreds of people across the country and left many residents of Guiwan without homes. Two years later, efforts have been made to rebuild homes, but the economic situation of the people in the area remains challenging, with many residents barely earning enough to survive.

The people of Guiwan may not have much in material wealth, but they possess a richness of spirit that is rare to find. Being welcomed into this island community feels like medicine for my heart and soul. They are warm, genuine, and create a sense of safety and community that is often missing in more developed areas. Life in this village moves at a slower pace, with most residents focused on meeting the basic needs of their families and taking care of others in need within their community.

The local children in Guiwan can be found playing games with sticks and rocks on the streets and surfing on old broken boards or makeshift boards in the water without leashes. Some of my favorite memories of traveling so far have been my time with the kids here, both in and out of the water. They exude curiosity, joy, and kindness.

My vision is to raise funds to construct and stock a community surf shack dedicated to engagement and empowerment for the youth. This space will provide local children with access to surfing equipment to enhance their skills and passion for the sport, engage in arts and crafts activities to foster creativity, and participate in community meals to ensure access to nourishing food and a space for gathering and connection.

Collaborating with the local community and fellow travelers, our intention is to gather surfboards, leashes, rash guards, surf wax, and other items. My goal is to provide the necessary resources for the children to nurture their love for surfing and improve their skills in the sport. My personal journey with sports transformed my life years ago. Surfing has provided me with tools to improve my mental health, cultivate a more positive relationship with my body, connect with nature, boost my self-confidence, find purpose, and foster a sense of community. I hope that by bringing resources into the village to support the children's surfing endeavors, they will experience similar positive impacts in their lives.

Many Siargaonons I have encountered support themselves and their families through the growing surfing tourism industry of this island, offering surf lessons and organizing surf excursions. By equipping the children with the tools to nurture their passion for surfing, this could also open up job opportunities later down the line.

To foster creativity and cultural exploration, I aim to introduce arts, crafts, and music days where I can provide the resources for the children to explore different passions that many of us have the privilege to access. I also plan to host community meals in this structure to provide food for the children of the village. My vision is for this structure to be a place of gathering, education, nourishment, and play.

I am collaborating with my host, Jay-ar Solis, to bring this dream to life. Jay-ar is deeply involved in the community, having served as an elected council member for the past 9 years. He is also a local surfing legend in this village, known not only for his surfing skills but also for his kind heart and generous nature. Jay-ar has assisted me in obtaining price estimates and establishing a budget goal for the project.

Surf shack: $270 for labor and materials

Used surfboards boards: ~ $70 each x 6 = $420

6 leashes: $100

15 rash guards: $10 = $150

Arts & crafts supplies: $60

Total ~ $1,000

Starting small, I am organizing a community gathering this Saturday and Sunday (March 2nd & 3rd) to host a "children's day" inspired by their expressed needs and desires. Together, we have created a shopping list of their favorite fruits and snacks. Additionally, I have begun purchasing art supplies and collaborated with peers in the community to provide surfboards and surf lessons for the weekend. These initiatives aim to cultivate a supportive community environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive together.

If this project resonates with you, please consider donating. Even a small contribution can make a significant impact in this community. If you are inclined to donate towards a specific aspect of this initiative, such as enhancing the shelter, acquiring surfboards, or providing art supplies, musical instruments, or food, please let me know, and I will ensure that your donation is directed towards that specific area of need. Thank you for your support!