In 1989 Gary Kleynhans began introducing, teaching and training disadvantaged children in Cape Town in the sport of surfing. This effort has seen countless numbers of children (many hundreds) positively impacted through healthy surfing participation as well as learning and reinforcing positive life skills.

 Prior to 1994 South Africa was subject to Apartheid policies, which severely disadvantaged black and non-white persons. Until the end of apartheid non-whites were not permitted to use many of the beaches, risking arrest if they did so. A primary focus of Gary Kleynhans’ work has been to seek out and develop surfing talent among the black & non-white communities.

The goal of seeking out, training and developing surfing talent as well as teaching key life skills has been successful. Numerous participants have reached National Level Surfing Championships, two participants have represented South Africa in ISA approved competitions and many more have discovered surfing as a healthy positive influence in their lives.

A notable success of this program has been the introduction, training & development of Kwezi Qika. Kwezi is the first Black African ever to win a national championship title in South Africa and has been developed and trained by this program.  In addition to providing a significant opportunity to previously disadvantaged individuals, this program has also provided numerous ex-street children the opportunity to participate at no cost in the sport of surfing. Surfing has given these former hard living children a key focus, self esteem and a positive alternative to drugs and crime which are part and parcel of growing up on the streets of a country that has the second largest divide between rich and poor of any nation on earth. Moreover the determination and effort that these children bring to their surfing is intense and immensely inspiring.