You never really know how far a pebble will travel once it touches the water.
You see the first ripple. Then another. And another.
But you may never see where they eventually reach.
We believe young people are not projects to be completed. They are people with potential, purpose and the ability to shape the communities around them. And sometimes, the most powerful proof of that is watching a young person who once sat in our programmes return years later not as a participant, but as the person guiding the next generation.
This is the story of Faieq, Henrico and Jaywin.
Three young men. Three branches. Three journeys that began as children in our programmes and have now come full circle.
They were once the young people being poured into.
Today, they are pouring into others.
Student to Coach: Faieq’s Journey
Faieq was one of the very first young people to walk through the doors of 9Miles Project when our programme began in 2013.
School was difficult for him. He struggled with learning and eventually dropped out at a young age. But he remained connected to 9Miles. It became a place where he could find belonging, develop skills and begin to see a different future for himself.
Over the years, Faieq worked towards that future.
He became an internationally accredited surf coach and surfboard repair technician. He earned his driver’s license and PDP, PADI-accredited diver and board shaper, while building a career through permanent employment.
But perhaps the greatest measure of his journey isn’t what he has achieved for himself.
It is what he now does for others.
Faieq has become an agent of change in his community, helping young people get off the streets and meantoring them. With advanced First Aid training, he has become a designated First Aider in his community and has even helped save lives during emergencies.
As our head surf coach, he is supporting our young people through surf therapy and helping prepare young surfers for regional competitions.
It feels like a circle closing.
The boy who once arrived at 9Miles in 2013 is now back, standing alongside the team and helping create opportunities for the children who are where he once was.
Grom to Leader: Henrico’s Journey
In Elands Bay, Henrico’s story began in much the same way.
He started with 9Miles as a young grom: one of the children learning to surf, discovering the ocean and finding his place within a community.
Today, that young surfer has become an important part of the next chapter of 9Miles in Elands Bay.
Henrico has played a pivotal role in expanding our social enterprise efforts on the West Coast, particularly through surf lessons, equipment rentals and other community-driven initiatives that continue to strengthen our presence in Elands Bay.
He has also earned his Surf Coach accreditation through the International Surf Association.
The child who once came to learn is now helping teach.
The young surfer who once needed someone to show him what was possible is now helping show others.
Coming Full Circle: Jaywin’s Journey
Growing up in Sea Vista in the Eastern Cape, Jaywin first connected with the 9Miles Project surf programme as a child.
He was an eager young surfer then.
But the journey didn’t end there.
In 2025, Jaywin returned to the St Francis Surf Project as a volunteer before stepping into a facilitation role.
Today, he coaches and mentors the next generation of young people in Sea Vista, a community where opportunities and positive role models can be scarce.
He is now offering young people something that he once received himself: someone to look up to, someone to learn from and someone who understands where they come from.
His presence says something powerful without needing many words:
You can come from here and still become more.
The Ripple Keeps Moving
Faieq. Henrico. Jaywin.
Their stories are different, but the thread connecting them is the same.
Someone showed up for them.
Someone believed in them.
Someone created a safe space for them to learn.
Someone gave them an opportunity to discover what they could do.
And now, they are doing the same for someone else.
This is what long-term impact looks like.
It isn’t always immediate. Sometimes it takes years before you see the ripple reach the shore.
A child joins a programme.
They learn to surf.
They find a mentor.
They discover a skill.
They gain confidence.
They find employment.
They uplift and empower others wherever they find themselves.
And suddenly, the young person sitting across from them is another child who might one day do exactly the same.
You never know how far a pebble will travel once it touches the water.
But we know this: the ripples continue.
And Faieq, Henrico and Jaywin are living proof.
They were once the next generation.
Now, they are helping shape it.
Become a monthly donor and help create the opportunities, safe spaces and support that allow young people to discover what they’re capable of and one day, pass it on.
Your monthly gift could be the pebble that starts a ripple reaching generations beyond you.
