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SOMA Launches SUP-Therapy Project on Príncipe Island with HBD's Support

Written by:
José Bourbon
October 24, 2024
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Four years after a group of girls surfed for the very first time in São Tomé, history is being made again – this time on the beautiful island of Príncipe!

On Sunday, October 22nd, SOMA officially launched “SOMA x Eu Sou Príncipe”, a pilot Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) Therapy project powered by HBD Príncipe – Sustainable Hotels. We gathered with four neighboring communities to introduce this new program, built on the foundations of the holistic surf-therapy model that has shaped our work in São Tomé since 2020.

The response was overwhelming – more than 60 applications came in right away! This enthusiastic interest reinforces our belief that “SOMA x Eu Sou Príncipe” is a major step forward in our mission to promote gender equality and empower young women across Africa.

We are driven by the conviction that sport, when used with intention, can be a powerful tool for change. With this new chapter, Príncipe becomes part of the SOMA story – and the story is just beginning.

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“I carry the memory of older girls asking to try a tampon, when before they were afraid it might take away their virginity” (part 2)
In this second part, the mentor shares the heart of SOMA’s mission on Príncipe Island: creating a safe space where girls can be children, be heard, and discover their inner strength. Through Psycho-Empowerment classes, emotional education, and close work with families, SOMA helps girls build self-esteem, autonomy, and confidence to shape their own futures, even in the face of deep gender inequality. This is the testimonial of SOMA's current psycho-empowerment mentor
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