<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Local surfers, the sport of surfing, surf tourism and the protection of surf breaks (as a renewable resource) all have to work together to improve climate change resilience, socio-economic situations, gender equality and to protect biodiversity in the largest archipelagic country in the world, and as the longest running surfing organization in Indonesia and the Asian Region the ASC absolutely places a priority on this.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The ASC’s first interaction with A Liquid Future occurred in early 2013 when working with the Mentawai government and Rip Curl Asia to plan and execute the 2013 Mentawai Pro Surf Competition on Sipora Island. As a social organisation active on the ground in the Mentawai Islands, A Liquid Future was knowledgeable and experienced with the local community and engaged with the government, which resulted in a successful competition and provided the opportunity to interact with the locals to educate them on environmental issues. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Now the ASC and ALF are partnering to bring “Our Future Waves – Surf Resource Education” workshops to surf clubs across Indonesia who are competing in the ASC-founded Liga Surfing Indonesia (Indonesian Surf League), currently numbering 17 clubs across Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, and Rote. The initial plan is for the ASC to facilitate the ALF in bringing the 3-day program to several of the clubs during the remainder of 2022 and on into 2023.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Using a combination of science, creative media, tech and water sports, the ALF’s Reef and Coastline Health Surveys and Monitoring, Water Safety, and the Girls Group are among the highlights of the program. These skills are not covered in any school education programs, so working with surf club leaders, the local community and the local government, ALF and the ASC see this project equipping local surf clubs and communities to be at the forefront of sustainable management of their surf break.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The focus is on:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;">- Improving living standards and the well-being of coastal communities </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Protecting marine ecosystems </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Increasing opportunities and visibility for girls and women </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">“Building on the passion local communities have for surfing and the opportunity surf tourism offers to improve socio-economic standards and protect marine ecosystems, this project is a game-changer. In the largest archipelagic country in the world with more than 1,000 surf breaks, some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth and currently experiencing rapid development, the time to act is now. We are thrilled to be working with the ASC and take our partnership to the next level,” stated Lizzie Murray, founder and director of ALF.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">“The ASC has always been dedicated to caring for our ocean and the environment, together with growing the sport of surfing, so this is a great opportunity for the ASC and the ALF to share resources and keep working towards the sustainable and responsible growth of surfing and surf tourism, along with educating the surfing communities to care for their members and their natural resources,” added ASC’s Tipi Jabrik.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With this partnership as a pilot program, the long term goal is to scale this program and share with other surfing communities around the Asian Region such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Maldives, India, Taiwan and others.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Go to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aliquidfuture/" target="_blank">@aliquidfuture</a> on Instagram to see all of their recent activities.</div>