Project Wave of Optimism gives tourism a good name; it was established to facilitate a community-driven development in Latin American surf travel destinations. Project Wave of Optimism commits itself to the critical overlap between surf tourism, gypset presence, and host community efforts to improve quality of life.
As of this post, $70,234 has been donated to the cause.
This 501(c)3 non-profit organization was founded by surfers Nick Mucha and Adam Monaghan, while they served as Peace Corps volunteers in Honduras in 2004. It was during a stay in Nicaragua that they noticed the negative impact that surf tours, surf camps, and surf culture had had on the surrounding native community.
Nick and Adam knew they had to do something. They decided to set out and show the world how surfers and the gypset community were cultural ambassadors– catalysts for positive, lasting changes.
The location of Gigante, Nicaragua attracts surfers who wish to “get off the beaten track.” It’s a quiet town with an enormous, world class swell. Lake Nicaragua is responsible for the creation of perfect barrels for which the area is known. With this in mind, the Project WOO team is helping give back to the local community by hosting a multitude of project in that area. This includes the community health center that the team members are on the verge of developing.
The team hopes to make Project WOO a model for sustainable tourism around the world. If you want to spread the love, and make a donation to this amazing cause you can do so by following the link www.projectwoo.org.
