
- May 6, 2022
- 2 min


- Apr 4, 2022
- 2 min
(n.) Surfers Proud of the African Women
“Surfing was my doorway and therapy, my way. And you can't live by these two principles without sharing this treasure with these girls from at-risk backgrounds, living in vulnerable situations and exposed to repeated stressful events. It is like seeing someone drowning and not giving them a hand!”
Francisca Sequeira
Founder & Head of Intervention
Designed to breakdown stigma, improve self-esteem, perseverance and social skills, our surf program includes two surf lessons per week where our girls develop their surf skills and expand their mind through sea love, ocean conservation practices and surf sisterhood. A fun by-product is to develop great surfers!
SOMA surf manual has been created in partnership with João Araújo and the Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo.
"We truly believe in the values that surf teach us and through our actions in this program we aim that these values are shared with the community of São Tomé. "
José Nuno Ferreira
Surf Manager
Created to foster a love for learning and increase school success rates, our classroom is a focused space where, once a week, our girls can study, do their homework and develop study, work and lifelong learning skills.
"It's a honor to help these girls dream big and make them believe they can achieve their dreams through education!"
Rita Vilaça
Field Manager
Rita Vilaça
Academic Support Manager
Once a week, our girls have a group psychotherapy session where they learn how to identify & express emotions, seek help and process trauma. SOMA Psychoeducation manual has been created in partnership with the organization Mar Me Quer.
" (...) I believe that joining these two worlds (surf and therapy) is to live in an infinite ocean of possibilities to be healthier and happier. "
Dr. Maria Pais Romão
Psychoeducation Manager
Once a week, SOMA organizes activities that promote self-esteem and confidence such as debates on the role of women, sexual education and many other workshops. SOMA empowerment manual has been created in partnership with "Por Todas Nós", "Oriunda" and "Kre Ser".
"Some of the best things that happened in my life were the moment I started to be politically aware and the moment I started to surf. SOMA includes both, how could I not be part of this project?!"
Patricia Silva
Empowerment Manager
Volunteer as a Mentor
in São Tomé
5 MONTHS | FULL-TIME
!Portuguese speakers only!
Each mentor is responsible for one of the 4 areas of intervention that has been allocated to him/her:
SURFING | EDUCATION
PSYCHOEMPOWERMENT | SOMA CLUB
Before departure, mentors will receive training (remote) and during the mission, mentors will be guided by each subject manager.
Join our HQ Team
Remote
MIN. 3-6 MONTHS | 4HRS PER WEEK
SOMA back-office team are mostly volunteers collaborating flexibly, remotely and async. If you a skilled marketer, content producer, social media guru, talent recruitment, economy expert or simply a passionate about gender equality, surf and have at least 4hrs/week to help, please reach out, we would love to have you on the team!
Founder
& Head of Intervention
Field & Academic Support
Manager
General
Manager
Psychoeducation
Manager
Intervention
Manager
Family Relations & Culture
Head of Product & Business
Communications
Manager