Name: Vargheese
Date of Birth: 24/04/1990

Residence: Vizhinjam

​Life Story: I grew up in Vizhinjam, a fishing village south of Kovalam. Even though my house is situated only a couple of kilometers away from the touristy beach of Kovalam, it is a whole different world. The tourist industry in Kovalam is a multimillion rupees industry, whereas in my village poverty roams. I quit school when I was 12 years old, because the teacher used to beat me. For a while I was just hanging around in the streets, choosing the rough side of life. Until a SISP social worker noticed me and advised me to come to the SISP school, with the promise that it is very different than the government school I was used to. Ever since that day my life has taken a positive twist. I learned English, finished high school and learned to behave in a civilized way and take up responsibility. Now I am working as a surf guide & teacher in Kovalam and in my free time I am volunteering in the Kovalam Surfclub to give the new groms the same changes I got when I was younger.



​Surf Experience & Motivation: Because I grew up in a fishing village, the ocean has always played a key role in my life. All my male relatives are fishermen and their women sell the fish on the market. So even in my earliest memories I can remember joining my dad and brother out into the ocean. But quickly I also learned that fishing was nothing for me. When I saw Jelle surfing and he offered to teach me, I realized that the ocean was not mend only for fishing, but is also the best playground in the world!!! That was 2005, now, not a day goes by that I’m not in the ocean…​