New Perspectives through Surf & Community

In Lobitos, a small coastal village in northern Peru, life is simple – and often challenging. Many families have limited financial resources, educational opportunities are restricted, and children do not always have the space to experience carefree childhood, play and personal development. 

This is where the NGO Waves Lobitos comes in. Since 2008, sports, educational and environmental programs have created safe spaces in which children and young people can learn, grow and take on responsibility. The initiative was launched many years ago by a diverse group of surf travelers who recognized the need for support and sustainable change within the community. 

Over time, a generation of children who once participated in the programs grew into a generation of young adults who now take on responsibility and lead the organization themselves. In this way, Waves Lobitos became an organization from and for the local community in the Peruvian fishing village of Lobitos, creating new perspectives and nurturing local future leaders through surf, skate and community. 

The work of Waves does not end in Lobitos. In other regions of Peru and across South America, the NGO brings together people who share common values and supports the development of regenerative working groups. Through networking, exchange and shared learning formats, knowledge is passed on, experience is shared, and impact is strengthened beyond individual places. 

What particularly convinces us at MANEOS about Waves Lobitos is its holistic approach. Sports such as surfing, skateboarding and jiu-jitsu are not used merely for physical activity, but intentionally to provide children with positive experiences and to strengthen their emotional skills, self-confidence and social abilities. The sports programs are complemented by initiatives in art, environmental education and marine conservation. Through this, children and young people develop a holistic and forward-looking understanding of the importance of the ocean, sustainable tourism, and the protection of their own livelihoods. 

Waves Lobitos and the future of the children and young people are especially close to our hearts, not least because our consultant Alexa spent several months in Peru in 2025, allowing her to experience the work of the NGO firsthand and engage directly with both the team of Waves and the children in the village. 

For us at MANEOS, it is clear that social impact emerges where action begins early – with the youngest members of a community – where work is locally rooted, and where people are empowered to actively shape their own future. Waves Lobitos is a strong example of this approach and a project we support with full conviction, as children and young people are guided and empowered to one day take on responsibility themselves and help shape the future of their community.