f Paria - Ins and Outs of Trinidad & Tobago 2013

The Trinidad
Nicholas Marsan
experience
Las Cuevas Surf Day
by Robyn Edwards M.Sc., Speech-Language Pathologist
The iceberg of differences melted away
under the blazing sun at Las Cuevas beach
on September 5, 2009, when the specialneeds
children and their families from
Caribbean Kids and Families Therapy
Organization (CKFTO), met the surfers
from the Surfing Association of Trinidad
and Tobago (SATT). The surfers brought
their expertise and skill while the parents
brought their gratitude and the children
brought their smiles. Unified by the
weightlessness of water, all barriers were
crossed and the parents, children and
surfers united for one purpose…fun, a type
of fun that gave a freedom of spirit to all.
The day started at 9:00 a.m. and the
surfers, professional as bankers, were
ready and raring to go. It was a true
testament to how seriously they were
taking the day to hear Chris Dennis, one
of Trinidad and Tobago’s most prominent
surfers, prep the group, which ranged
in age from 14 to 40. He had done his
homework; the children who had come
to surf had a range of disorders and
Chris managed to succinctly give a little
information on each.
At first, the families and surfers milled
around, no one quite sure how to start.
This was, of course, new to everyone.
Some of these families had not been to
the beach in years, far less ever on a surf
board and the some of the surfers had
never been around children with special
needs. Sara Stephens the co-founder of
CKFTO and I stood around anxiously, what
were we doing bringing all these people
to the unpredictable ocean, there were
so many things that could go wrong. Our
fears were soon appeased however; all it
took was one person to start. Soon there
were as many as fifty people in the water
laughing, splashing and having a ball.
The only time the children could be
coaxed to leave the water was when
Warren Rostant, the primary organiser of
the event, came walking down the beach
ringing the bells of the ice-cream cart he
had gotten so generously donated, the
children swarmed around him. Less than
five minutes later, faces and hands sticky
from the lollies and ice creams they had
inhaled, the kids were headed back to
the water.
Slowly, after hours out in the surf, the
children, parents and surfers started
making their way back to where the tent
had been set up. They all had a weary
smile on their faces. The question that
each asked was, “When are we doing this
again, can we do it again next week”
Maybe, maybe was answered, always with
a smile. Because of the huge success
the day turned out to be, that answer
will not have been in vain, as there are
already plans in the works for a Christmas
party with a Surfer Santa ho-ho-ho-ing
his way down the beach with a bag full of
surprises.
It is the mission of both of the
organisations involved that set the stage
for the generosity of spirit that could be
demonstrated that day. CKFTO is a nonprofit
organisation in Trinidad and Tobago
dedicated to providing occupational
therapy to children with special needs. In
addition to providing therapy, CKFTO also
supports families through a monthly parent
support group and sibling group, Sibshop.
The Surfing Association of Trinidad and
Tobago is a non-profit organization intent
on moving the sport of surfing forward in
every aspect. Keith Lewis, the president
of SATT says it best, “Gone are the days
of surfing’s negative stereotypes; today
surfing ambassadors have only positives
to pass on to our communities. We are
here to share the joy of wave riding and
beach culture. We are here to share the joy
and love of all the ocean has to offer.”
Gone were all stereotypes that day
as children with special needs blended
and became just kids on surfboards,
laughing and splashing in the water. Their
challenges and those of their families got
lost, at least for a few hours. Siblings got
a chance to connect with and enjoy their
brother or sister in a completely new way.
Small battles were won all day, such as the
child with autism, who had not put foot
into water for two years, splashing around
in the waves, or the little girl with cerebral
palsy riding a surfboard, or just simply a
family being able to enjoy a day together
at the beach. Such simple joys can easily
be forgotten in the rush of daily life.
That day, roles were reversed, the kids
became surfers and the surfers became
kids, and everyone was a teacher. The
smiles and enjoyment of all involved was
beautiful to see.
If any more information on either of
these organisations is wanted you can get
in touch with CKFTO at (868) 703-3863 or
e-mail them at ckfto1@gmail.com, for SATT
please e-mail wrostant@gmail.com or call
Warren Rostant at (868) 354-6969
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The Ins & Outs of Trinidad and Tobago