With NatureFolx, I meet amazing people from all around the world and share their positive environmental stories. After a recent trip down to Cuba, I met Yaya Guerrero and a few other Cuban locals from the surf scene out of Havana.

Yaya is a leader in this community and was recently featured in the surf documentary "Habana Libre". She teaches an all-girls surf class, an all-genders surf class and a surfers class targeting those with special needs. Her goal is to increase accessibility to surfing in Cuba and she hopes to one day see Cuban surfers participate in the Olympics. To read more about her work in the surf community in Cuba - you can read here.

When we met, we discussed the growing surf culture in Havana and her personal story, along with its barriers. One of the largest barriers to surfing was equipment availability.

Yaya estimated there are only around ten boards in use in Havana, an insanely small number for a growing surf scene. They are especially in need of foam boards to help facilitate new surfers' learning, which due to current situation with the United States, are impossible to ship into the country. The only way foam boards and other surf supplies can get into the country is through a citizen from another country.

I have already organized 1 trip with a few other members of the southern Californian surf scence, which brought down surf gear to Yaya. I am currently fundraising for the next round.

Surfing is an exhilarating, empowering and humbling sport. It brings people together, bolsters confidence and fosters connection and stewardship for the environment. By increasing the availability of surf equipment in the Cuba surf scene, we can help bolster the growing community and empower those already in the water.

If you are interested in donating you can do so through here. We cannot at this time set up a GoFundMe since GoFundMe is a US organization.

Your donation will go towards buying surf equipment for the Cuban surf team, with 1% of the sales also going towards Stripe sponsored proven Climate Change Solutions.