Our team is now a group of 4 youngsters between the age of 16-19 each are unique but oh so passionate. We have 2 mentors on board and volunteers helping the organisation with social media plus local school shops like Makani Beach Club, Holix Watersport, and Katana Waves supporting the youngsters with stability of gear so they can be out on the water and doing their thing.
Hamza was the first Rising Star coming from Dahab, the kid who planted the seeds of making more kids feel that saying their dreams out loud can become a reality after seeing him travel internationally and get supported by North Kiteboarding and Mystic, growing his name internationally and becoming the Egyptian champion within kitesurfing. Within our educational camps that is based on our four pillars of positivity the past years it contributed to Hamza reaching his dream for 2023. You can read more about Hamza under "Our People".
2022/ 2023 —Hamzawy travelled to Cape Town through the help of a collaborator Makani Beachclub. With this contribution we were able to send Hamza for one month to South Africa where he came third in the 2nd division of BAKL: his first-ever international event — thank you Khaya Hostel for making him feel at home in Cape Town!
Hamza also got the chance to travel to Tarifa chasing the wind whilst chasing his dreams. The more people get to see the world the more growth resonates.
2023/ 2024 — This year we hosted a fundraiser at Makani Beach Club, El Gouna “Party with a Purpose” with Windseekers Kite Fest! Big thanks to the organisers, and all the people who showed up contributing to a direct impact. Special thanks to Ruben Lenten, Joss de Pfyffer & Ramez Naguib for donating their time playing music which brought the event to a different level.
All the profits contributed to the three youngsters two month training trip to Cape Town: covering flights, visas, accommodation, food, photographers, visas and transportation expenses. All the youngsters travelled to train among the best to challenge/ evolve in the rougher conditions and gain international competition experience by joining an international event in Cape Town whilst interacting with their teammates/sponsors. At the same time evolving their language, and networking skills whilst enhancing different cultures to support their individual personal growth. All youngsters in the educational program now have stability of gear either locally or internationally. Within our mentor system, all youngsters get help to get sponsorships, discuss contracts and any other individual support needed.
Once they have stability/ accomplished their dreams. The aim is for them to become mentors for the next generation and scout the upcoming talents who are uprising within different parts of Egypt. Rising stars brought in inspiring role models to speak/ coach which had a direct impact on the youngster's self-development like Cohan Van Dijk, Janek Grzegorzewski etc. Our camps have also had connections with Redbull Egypt and Ignite Egypt placing a focus on recovery and mindset.
During local events, we bring any second-hand gear or donations received to be distributed to kids who live close to the sea but would never be able to afford their own equipment. Giving kids a chance to be part of this sport.
This year thanks to Duotone kiteboardings donation of gear we were able to make kitesurfing for the next generation in Egypt more accessible. To see all the kids who would do anything to be on the sea have access to equipment was a great highlight for us which we hope can grow the talents even more undefined by where you're born. A little view into the passionate young generation: https://tinyurl.com/ydff7sv7
In 2024 we signed our first collaboration for refuel with none other than Own Snacks Egypt. Thankful for the support with bars, granolas and protein bites that the youngsters can refuel between training sessions which is also a part of evolving their social media skills by creating content for their page and the businesses they collaborate with. Since social media is a big part of having a career as a professional athlete today we have a social media manager teaching and helping them curate a layout for their Instagrams to build their name.
