Ntando (17) is an ex street child and ambassador for SURFERS NOT STREET CHILDREN. He is a team rider for BILLABONG. He is also sponsored for surfing by BILT Surfboards, Dakine and Skull Candy and has received much support and encouragement from Surfing South Africa. He represented South Africa at the ISA World Junior Surfing Games in Ecuador this year and is currently ranked 2nd in South Africa (under 17's). He finished 3rd in the 2014 SA Junior Champs at J-Bay. In order to test his skills and decide his pro surfing career path as well as inspire and educate people around the global phenomenon of street children through is story, Surfers Not Street Children is giving him the opportunity to travel to Hawaii and spend 6 weeks on the North Shore. There he will test his skills alongside the worlds best whilst sharing his life story as an ambassador for street children.

Ntando lost both his parents and, as an orphan ended up living on the streets of Durban, South Africa from the age of nine. Life is tough on the streets yet it was through surfing that his life changed.

He met Tom Hewitt (founder Surfers Not Street Children) and, through Tom's surfing projects for street children, the support of the local surfing community and SA Surfing (including KZN surfing), Ntando transitioned his life. He went back to school (is now in a bridging education program), trained hard in his surfing and currently lives at the Surfers Not Street Children team house in Durban called the Surfhouse (a mentorship program) with seven other ex street children who also rip! 

As an ambassador for Surfers Not Street Children, Ntando inspires other children through his story and also helps articulate the realities of the street child experience so that it is understood. Surfers Not Street Children is a surfing team that aims to change the way that society perceives and treats street children around the world.

Please help Ntando's dream come true and help him spread his message. Lets get him to Hawaii for this winter season before so that he can realise his potential. Thanks! 

Surfers Not Street Children

(Partnered with Pickwell Foundation)