The São Tomé and Príncipe National Olympic Committee is funding surfing lessons for girls ©COSTP

The São Tomé and Príncipe National Olympic Committee (COSTP) is helping girls between the ages of 6 and 18 take part in surfing lessons.

COSTP is working with the National Surfing Federation and the country’s Surfing Academy on the Surfers Proud of Africa’s Women (SOMA) project. 

The SOMA project aims to use surfing to develop girls’ self-esteem and resilience and help them step out of their comfort zones.

It also introduces surfing to underprivileged girls as a way for them to spend their free time and make them more autonomous.

COSTP will take care of both the transport to take participants to training and internet access to facilitate contact with parents.

The São Tomé and Príncipe National Olympic Committee recently opened its renovated headquarters ©COSTP
The São Tomé and Príncipe National Olympic Committee recently opened its renovated headquarters ©COSTP

It will also cover coaching-related costs. 

São Tomé and Príncipe, a former Portuguese colony, made its Olympic debut at Atlanta 1996 and has competed at every Summer Games since.

They have never won a medal and sent three athletes to Rio 2016, in athletics and canoeing.

COSTP recently opened its renovated headquarters in Quinta Santo António.