I had the pleasure of spending time with the surfing children of Madagascar, who use broken wood to surf. Some of them take great care to craft their own surfboards from the soft planks of their fathers’ fishing boats, glued together with tree resin. Others share an unfinished boat plank.

When the waves roll into the bay of this small fishing village, all the children gather to ride them. Their goal is to have fun, improve their skills, and celebrate each other’s successes. The euphoria and playful desire to learn is incredible.Although a perfectly shaped surfboard that has been refined over the years would make riding the waves easier, the quality of the boards is irrelevant. Their authentic delight comes from the satisfaction of succeeding on their own.