SurfHappy ElSalvador was created to support the local beach communities of El Salvador by promoting the young surfers and their surfing careers, and the surfing sport in the country, by providing free digital photography and online promotion to the local surfers. Young kid that gets serious in his/her surfing career are less likely to fall into the life of drag gangs and violence, that is a major problem in El Salvador.
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
El Tunco, and other beach communities
Describe the specific community with whom you will be working.
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
SurfHappy ElSalvador is already an active Facebook user, that achieved in less then a year a great number of followers. The main content is photography, surfing and tourism related news and stories, and community activities and news – provided by SurfHappy, and also shared from other active Salvadoran users from all the beach communities around El Salvador.
What technologies and digital tools do you plan to use in the trainings?
Describe the connections that you or your organization have already established that will contribute to the success of the project.
SurfHappy ElSalvador is already a well connected user known and appreciated by many surf related organizations in CA, media providers (i.e local newspapers & radio stations, Guatamala's LiveSport website, and more), and private sponsors (i.e Impressa Repuestos). Also, the work done in SurfHappy was officially recognized in the yearly meeting of the Salvadoran Surf Federation, for its great contribution during 2012
How many participants do you think will be involved in your project?
Today the beach community that benefits the most from the project is El Tunco, plus all the current active surfers (approx 30-40). With extended reach, the project can help many more beaches (Palmarcito, Zonte, Majahual, Mizata, San Blas, and many more). Also, many young kids are already encouraged to take their surfing seriously thanks to the exposure provided by the project, and the results already accomplished.
Besides the microgrant funding, what other resources and support are you seeking for your project to ensure its success?
The main object of SurfHappy ElSalvador is to increase international exposure of local surfers, and the Salvadoran surf in general, thus increasing options to find sponsors and professional help to the young surfers, and increase tourism in the beach communities – so any sort of exposure provided by Rising Voices would be of great help.
