Nurse in El Salvador launches program to teach surfing to Autistic children
Since I started the surfing lessons, I have had mothers come and thank me with tears in their eyes, telling me how grateful they feel. They note the changes they noticed in their children, in how they interact with others. Many parents even accompany their children to the sessions just to watch the happiness they feel while on the water.
- 2 years ago
February 28, 2023
Robin teaches surfing to Autistic children between the ages of four and 10. | Photo courtesy of Robin Edgardo
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Working as a nurse, I gained years of experience with Autistic children. I gained great insight into their gifts and struggles and met many incredible souls along the way. I often dreamed of things I could do to improve their quality of life.
When I began surfing and felt the excitement of it, I wondered if my patients would enjoy a similar experience. A few months later, I launched my first surfing lessons to a small group of Autistic children, and everything changed.
Not one to show affection, little Marcos ran over and gave me a kiss on the cheek
I have always been a sensitive person and I feel no shame in that. Seeing children happy, doing something they feel confident in, brings tears to my eyes. One day, while on vacation abroad, I spotted a group of kids surfing. They looked ecstatic, sporting a glow and full of energy. Their happiness caught my attention, and I decided to try out surfing for myself.
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The rush of adrenaline and ecstasy that courses through your body when you get on a board feels life changing. I knew this kind of activity would do wonders for Autistic children, who often become isolated from sports. I felt more confident in my decision after seeing the amount of support I received from parents and colleagues regarding my idea.
Since I began this project, I noticed great improvement in my patients’ overall mood. Through one of my classes, I met Marcos, a six-year-old Autistic boy. Like many Autistic children, Marcos typically does not like to be touched or hugged. One day, after a session, Marcos ran over and gave me a kiss on the cheek. That moment touched me deeply. I felt like I gained his trust.
When working with Autistic children, you must create an environment where they feel safe and comfortable. I did this by introducing the kids to swimming slowly, in the pools of hotels. With my team of experts, we taught them how to float on a board, row, stand, and keep balance.
Watching them surfing, tears streamed down my cheeks as the crowd erupted in applause
Launching the project required a ton of help, so I asked for volunteers from the Autism centers of El Salvador. Responses pured in from psychologists, therapists, instructors, and other nurses. I also needed funding. Generous sponsors emerged who pay for the surfing equipment, boards, and clothes. Three months later – when we assembled the volunteers and had some funding in place – I organized the very first group.
When I woke up the morning before the first class, I felt so excited to start the day. I feel this way before every class. The group seemed very shy and quiet at first, but slowly, they formed friendships all around. I watched them laugh as they ran around the sand and swam in the ocean. My heart felt like it would burst. Happiness poured through me at the sight of them enjoying their day out, doing something they never thought they could do. These kids rarely had a chance to go to the beach. They mostly stayed indoors with their parents.
We never take them further than the shore and we always work with small groups of six children for safety. We also have multiple instructors on the water with them at every lesson. They start with warmups, then swim in the shallow end. Very slowly, they get on the board. I feel awe at the beautiful sight of them surfing, arms outstretched, feeling the ocean breeze.
One time, instead of lying down on the board and peddling further out to sea, two boys stood up right away. They managed to keep their balance the entire time they surfed. It felt impossible to contain the massive amount of pride I felt in that moment. Tears of joy streamed down my cheeks as we erupted in applause.
Mothers come to me with tears in their eyes after seeing their Autistic child happy
Since the beginning of this experiment, we have had no major issues. One small one arose in the first week of training when a drone flew above us. The noise affected the children. Fortunately, the therapists on site helped calm them down. This illustrates the importance of having the proper staff on site for projects like this.
Surfing does wonders for children on the spectrum. It helps them concentrate, get rid of the stress, and socialize. Other centers heard about our experiment and wanted to learn more. Now called Surftismo, we hope our project inspires moms as well. A lot of the parents live in constant anxiety over their children. They want their kids to experience the most from life but also fear for their safety all the time.
Since I started the surfing lessons, I have had mothers come and thank me with tears in their eyes, telling me how grateful they feel. They note the changes they noticed in their children, in how they interact with others. Many parents even accompany their children to the sessions just to watch the happiness they feel while on the water.
In the future, I hope to go even further. I want to open a bigger center, with larger staff and offer more classes and help. I want to dedicate my life to making these children feel excited about the world.
