March at SOMA Surf: Where Growth Happens Beyond the Waves

At SOMA Surf, every month tells a story and March was one of courage, consistency, and quiet transformation.

One of the clearest signals of this commitment can be seen in something simple, yet powerful: showing up.

Across the month, participation remained strong, with the Gliders (ages 10–12) reaching an average attendance of around 73%, and the Riders (ages 12–14) around 79%. While each session brings its own challenges, these numbers reflect something deeper: a growing sense of belonging and engagement with the program.

Behind every percentage is a choice: to come, to try, and to be part of something bigger.

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Building Confidence in the Water

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March brought meaningful breakthroughs in the girls’ relationship with the ocean.

For many, this meant facing one of their biggest fears: deep water. Step by step, several girls reached deeper areas for the first time, learned to control their breathing, and even managed to sit calmly on the seabed, a milestone that once felt impossible.

These moments go beyond physical achievement. They represent trust, in their bodies, in the ocean, and in themselves.

While some girls are progressing quickly, others continue to need time, encouragement, and individual support. And that’s exactly where the most important growth happens.

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Creating Safe Spaces for Honest Conversations

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Our psycho-empowerment sessions continued to explore essential topics such as consent, sexual health, and violence.

Through role-playing, group discussions, and creative exercises, the girls were encouraged to reflect on real-life situations — developing emotional awareness and the ability to express complex feelings.

We’ve seen the Riders becoming increasingly confident in sharing their voices, while the Gliders, though more reserved, are engaging in their own way, with respect, curiosity, and gradual openness.

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Supporting Learning and Self-Expression
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Study support sessions remained focused on homework and preparation for assessments, particularly in Portuguese, Math, and English.

At the same time, these sessions created space for something equally important: self-expression. Activities like writing for Father’s Day revealed the girls’ emotional depth, creativity, and unique personal stories.

Despite ongoing challenges in motivation and consistency, there are clear signs of progress in participation and responsibility among many of the students.

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Moments That Strengthen Community

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Some of the most impactful moments this month happened beyond structured sessions.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, the girls stepped into the community, distributing handmade flowers with messages of empowerment and sharing their voices through poetry on the radio.

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They also took on leadership roles by inviting friends to experience their first time on a board, confidently sharing what they’ve learned.

And during a beach cleanup, what started as a simple activity became a powerful lesson in teamwork and environmental responsibility. Together, they collected and sorted large amounts of waste, turning effort into tangible impact.

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Growth Is Not Always Linear

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March also brought challenges: from fear and low confidence in the water to difficulties with focus, participation, and communication. But within these challenges, something important is shifting:

– A greater willingness to try again after setbacks

– Increasing emotional awareness

– Stronger group cohesion

– A growing sense of belonging

Progress doesn’t happen all at once. It happens in small, consistent steps, in showing up, again and again.

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Looking Ahead

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At SOMA Surf, we believe that empowerment is built through consistency, trust, and meaningful experiences. And this month reminded us of something simple but powerful: when girls show up, growth follows.‍

Wave by wave, step by step, they are not only learning how to surf, but how to navigate life.

If you want to help us to keep with our programmes running please donate here: https://donorbox.org/help-our-girls-get-to-surf-therapy

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