In 2024, you helped others to learn
“It’s the only time I feel like my troubles and problems really fade away,” said a man who had lived a life harder than most and who had been hurt more than most.
He was a City Mission client taking part in how-to-surf lessons run by the Surf Ora charity.
Afterwards as the salt water dried in their hair our group shared kai on the Sumner foreshore. As they relived the spills and successes, they talked openly about how much it meant to be together in the waves trying to stand up on the board just for a few seconds.
“It’s the only time I feel like my troubles and problems really fade away”
Another man simply said, “it’s the best thing I’ve ever done”.
Interestingly, it was the women we took along who stayed out in the waves longer than any of the men. For them it was a joy and a release they didn’t want to end.
Surf Ora is a charity that uses surfing as a way to lesson addiction and boost mental health and we have been associated with it right from the beginning.
We realised how much impact the course was having on clients when one asked if a friend who was going through a really bad time mentally could also join in because he could really do with help at this time.
The surfing outings are one of many activities our Learning Hub supports and we run them to lift the lives of clients after we have taken care of crisis situations – we are offering help beyond the beds and food parcels we are known for.
Our Learning Hub also aims to positively impact on our clients by offering classic education approaches such as providing computers for self-study, supporting driver licence study and so on.
We offer classes that add interest, colour and value to clients’ lives. Our choir that performs in the Transitional Cathedral is a good example. It can be incredibly uplifting for clients to learn to sing together. They need to have commitment, learn relaxation and breathing techniques, and have to use literacy skills– which we help them with.
They learn social skills and selfmanagement while coping with others in a team. This can be very new for many who live isolated lives. Some who put themselves forward to do solos find a courage inside they never believed possible, and their self-esteem rises, bringing benefits to all parts of their life.
Your impact is unique to each person, including helping them catch a wave or giving them courage to sing.
*Photo Caption: City Mission clients about to experience the power of togetherness in the waves.