Miryam fled school and her chaotic Israeli home at age 14, drifting to a different place every night. She didn’t trust adults, or herself, and began abusing drugs and alcohol.
Sinking slowly in a sea of despair, Miryam was thrown a lifeline by a nonprofit organization, HaGal Sheli (“My Wave”).
HaGal Sheli uses surfing to empower at-risk youth to get off the streets and back to school with a heightened sense of dignity, self-worth and accomplishment.
“HaGal Sheli was the first time Miryam started something and managed to finish it,” says Yaron Waksman.
Waksman cofounded the organization in April 2012 with his best friend, Omer Tulchinsky.
With corporate, government, foundation and individual funding, they’ve since “graduated” 3,000 teens like Miryam, from secular and religious Jewish, Muslim and Christian homes.
Waksman and Tulchinsky met in an educational entrepreneurship class at Seminar Hakibbutzim College. Each went on to earn a master’s degree in the education field.
They had remarkably similar backgrounds. Both gained leadership skills at a young age in Israeli youth movements. Both volunteered with underprivileged kids before becoming commanders in their respective military units.
And both Waksman and Tulchinsky love the waves. They are certified surfing instructors and ocean lifeguards.
“We never meant to establish a nonprofit,” Waksman tells ISRAEL21c. “We started surfing together and decided to use it as an educational tool for kids who have dropped out or have criminal records.”
Read More: Israel21c