We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Estefania Holt a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Estefania , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
When I started Shaka Soul Surfers, I was all about giving back to my special needs students with a fun activity. I saw how hard it was for these parents to find activities that really fit their kids. In our area, the resources for the special needs community is extremely lacking, from schools to doctors to extracurricular activities. It broke my heart! When I started this mission, my goal was to help kids and adults with special needs and their families, but it became so much more than that. When we started looking for volunteers, high school kids started pouring in, wanting to help out. Their energy blew me away and made me rethink things. Now, Shaka Soul Surfers isn’t just about the special needs community—it’s about getting the youth excited about helping others! Surfing is not just a sport; it’s a lifestyle. We want everyone to feel included and stoked about what they’re doing. So, whether you’re into shredding waves or just volunteering, there’s a place for you here!
Estefania , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I kind of got into this industry by accident! I went to school to become a special needs teacher, but due to unforeseen circumstances, I did not graduate with that specific degree. I felt super discouraged that my dream had come to an end. I started looking for a job and I saw on the college job site, my former volunteer coordinator, Caitlyn was hiring teachers. She remembered me and I got hired on the spot! I worked there for 8 years. Now, I am a stay-at-home mom and a substitute teacher at the same school. In 2020, I opened Shaka Soul Surfers while still working as a teacher with the help of my coworkers who are surfers as well and very dedicated to the special needs community. As for the surfing industry, my dad is a legendary soul surfer from Puerto Rico who dedicated his life to surfing. So, I wanted to combine my love for my students with surfing. Water is such a healing tool, and I wanted to give to that tool to my volunteers, my students, their parents, myself, my dad and now my daughter! We provide water therapy, laughter, and confidence-boosting team building. It may be an individual sport, but you need a team to succeed!
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
When it comes to supporting the special needs community, knowledge is everything. My aim with Shaka Soul Surfers wasn’t just to provide extra curricular activity, but to become a go-to resource for families and individuals seeking guidance and support. Inspired by my boss Caitlyn Garcia, who’s a wealth of knowledge, I wanted to offer more than just a surf experience. My goal is to create a safe haven where parents and individuals with disabilities can turn to for information and assistance. Whether it’s recommending therapies or suggesting other programs, I’m dedicated to being a reliable source of support for the community. I love that Shaka Soul Surfers is also a way for families to connect with each other.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
I have the best team when it comes to volunteers and the people who helped me open this. We just want to help people, no matter who the person is. We are focused on special needs, but we’ve expanded ourselves to include adults, youth and the communities/businesses around us. We want everyone to learn and grow. We offer CPR classes, and specialized instructor and special ed training. I just started an interning program where high school volunteers can learn how non profits work. I want all my students and volunteers to know they are in a safe place to learn and that it is ok to make mistakes. I will go above and beyond to help them. I’ve noticed over the years my volunteers around me step up and help without hesitation. I am so proud to have a team like that including high school volunteers who are eager to grow into leadership roles. We’re all collaborating as one team, and no one is better than the other. There’s no hierarchy, obviously as my nonprofit, I run it full time, but it’s a huge collaboration. No matter how little or big the contribution, without the love or support of others we are nothing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shakasoulsurfers.org
- Instagram: @shakasoulsurfers
- Facebook: @shakasoulsurferss
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@estefaniaholt1911?si=cImgT0DfpnMXRYs9