Film News

54 Mexican Grommets, 37 Surf Boards, 2 Australian Parents

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 11 March, 2010 : - - Somewhere Near Tapachula is the heartfelt true story of Mision Mexico, a children's refuge started Australian couple Alan and Pam Skuse. Based in Tapachula, Chiapas (on the southern coast of Mexico) this inspiring documentary focuses on Mision Mexico Boardriders Club, the unique surf community of orphaned, abused and homeless children.

Directed and produced by Australian surfing filmmakers Stefan Hunt and Jonno Durrant of Surfing 50 States, the film premiers in Sydney on 25th February 2010 at Dendy Opera Quays and will tour around Australia. 

For the first time the Skuses and the kids of Mision Mexico, tell their phenomenal tale of survival, love, hope and surfing. Documenting the stories of the 54 children of Mision Mexico, who have come from places of unimaginable poverty, trauma and abuse; and their experiences of healing and transformation through surfing and love. The film is a powerful lesson on the important things in life, and the power of riding waves, whether you are a surfer or not.

With 6 kids of their own in Australia, Pam and Alan set off for Tapachula in November 2000 to volunteer for 12 months at the Mision Mexico orphanage where their daughter had previously volunteered. Shortly into their stay the major benefactor withdrew and the kids were to be turned onto the street.  The couple’s volunteering adventure quickly turned into a life saving endevour and Mision Mexico, Giving Love, Life and Hope was born.

Mision Mexico’s mum and narrator Pam Skuse says: “In their short lives the children of Mision Mexico have experienced things that most of today’s society will never experience. Surfing is a potent form of therapy for these children. The ocean is not just a place of fun; it’s an escape from what life used to be for them.  Through Mision Mexico we provide a family and community which supports, guides, disciplines, encourages, and directs these children to better themselves.”

“Surfing is something special, it’s not just a sport its part of my life, I feel like I don’t need anything more, I don’t need to take drugs, there is nothing better than surfing” says Jose one of the film’s young grommets, also a former street kid who was caught up with drugs and gang violence.

The filmmakers, Aussie surfers Stefan Hunt and Jonno Durrant got involved in Mision Mexico when they were asked to donate a DVD of their new documentary Surfing50States. Moved by the children’s plight Stefen decided to volunteer for two months. Touched by the truly inspirational story, Stefan asked Jonno to join him with their camera equipment and Somewhere Near Tapachula was born.

"We were so touched and inspired by the amazing work of Pam and Alan Skuse, that I felt the story had to be shared. We are thrilled to be telling this remarkable story to fellow Australians” says Stefan Hunt.

11 months later, and the wacky duo Jonno and Stefan have completed their second feature award winning* documentary. With 22 shows planned Australia wide and the massive goal of raising $100,000 for Mision Mexico, the tour is bound to be full of amazing experiences.

"100% of the profits from Somewhere Near Tapachula will be donated to the Mision Mexico 'Future Fund'. This will allow kids to attend university and follow their dreams, something they never thought was possible" says Jonno Durrant.

QLD
MAR 10 COOLONGATTA – NEVER LAND CLUB
MAR 12 BRISBANE – MARIST COLLEGE ASHGROVE, DRANEY THEATRE
MAR 14 GYMPIE – HEART OF GOLD FILM FESTIVAL
MAR 17 NOOSA – NOOSA FESTIVAL OF SURFING
MAR 19 MARYBOROUGH – MARYBOROUGH TOWN HALL
MAR 21 DUBBO – DUBBO RSL CONFERENCE THEATRETTE

ACT
MAR 23 CANBERRA – ST. FRANCES XAVIER COLLEGE THEATRE

SA
MAR 25 ADELAIDE – MERCURY THEATRE

VIC
MAR 27 MELBOURNE – AUSTRALIAN CENTRE FOR THE MOVING IMAGE (ACMI) THEATRE
MAR 30 FRANKSTON - LECTURE ROOM MONASH UNI, PENINSULA
ARP 01 TORQUAY – SURFWORLD AUDITORIUM
APR 3 MELBOURNE – AUSTRALIAN CENTRE FOR THE MOVING IMAGE (ACMI) THEATRE

ALAN & PAM SKUSE

Alan and Pam Skuse, an Australian couple from the Sunshine Coast, Qld, arrived in Tapachula, Chiapas, in November 2000 with the intention of volunteering in an orphanage for twelve months. The organisation they came to work with, however, was forced to close down after six months. Not willing to simply abandon the children in their care, Alan and Pam made the life-changing decision to leave their comfortable existence in Australia and their six grown children, and established their own refuge for the youth of Tapachula – Mision Mexico, Giving Love, Life and Hope’ (Albergue Mision Mexico, Dando, Amor, Vida Y Esperanza). Since the refuge was established Pam and Alan have helped around 250 children in various ircumstances of need.

Mision Mexico cares for children aged two to eighteen years who have been abandoned, abused, neglected or orphaned. There is an average of 50 children living at the refuge on a permanent basis. Pam and Alan have built Mision Mexico to resemble a family home rather than an institution, where the children feel loved and secure. The children attend school and receive an education; opportunities they would likely never experience had Pam and Alan not received them into their home. Along with the love and care Pam and Alan provide the children, they are also encouraged to find natural solace in the ocean, with Alan teaching the children to surf. An avid surfer himself, Alan and the children are the only surfers in Tapachula! After five years of raising funds Pam and Alan’s family moved to a permanent home in July 2008 so that they can continue to take in new children.

STEFAN HUNT AND JONNO DURRANT

Jonno Durant and Stefan Hunt are very passionate about the environment, film making and surfing, and travelled the 50 states of America to document their attempts of finding a way of surfing in each and every state. Their Award winning film, Surfing 50 States delves into the people and varied culture of the United States. After Jonno and Stefan finished filming Surfing 50 States they decided to volunteer for two months at Mision Mexico children’s refuge in Tapachula, Southern Mexico.

Realising the children were the only surfers in the region, they found the mission presented a truly inspirational story, and were captivated by the fact that the kids used surfing s a healthy escape from their problems and pasts. Jonno and Stefan decided to turn the story of Mison Mexico into a documentary to educate the world on the refuge, and Somewhere Near Tapachula came to life. Stefan and Jonno are working on this project voluntarily, with 100% of profits from the movie going back to Mision Mexico.

MISION MEXICO

Mision Mexico, Giving Love, Life and Hope (Albergue Mision Mexico, Dando, Amor, Vida y Esperanza) was established in 2001 after founders Alan and Pamela Skuse made the decision to leave their lives in Australia and build a home for orphaned and abandoned children in Mexico.

The refuge has helped over 250 disadvantaged children since opening a decade ago. Many children that arrive at the refuge have suffered unbelievable acts of violence against them and experienced things no child should. The refuge, for them, represents a family home rather than an institution, where they can feel loved and secure.

The refuge is funded by individuals around the world, primarily Australia, the UK and the US, through ongoing sponsorship and fundraising activities. A number of generous people in Mexico including the Welfare Departments, ‘IDH’ support the family with donations of classes for the children, some school materials and basic food supplies.

Volunteers from around the world also donate their time and energy from one month to one year. Over the years the refuge has operated in rented houses and Government-supplied buildings, none of which have been appropriate for the care of the growing number of children needing Pam and Alan’s help. In July 2008 the family moved to a permanent home, purpose built for the children and their daily needs.

Love, life and hope are elements present in all our lives that we essentially take for granted, but for the orphaned, abandoned, abused and disadvantaged children of Tapachula, attaining these things is a constant struggle. And wouldn’t be possible without the help of Mision Mexico.

www.lovelifehope.com
www.goodcheer.tumblr.com
www.somewhereneartapachula.com

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