Chasing Waves and Words: A visit to Our Ocean School in the Mentawais …
The Mentawai Islands, a slice of Indo paradise where jungle meets reef, are known for firing barrels and off-grid adventure. But in late 2024, a different kind of stoke brought West Coast eFoil founder Nathan Lynch, Fliteboarding prodigy Zara, and ocean advocate Paul Young to the shores of Siberut. They weren’t chasing waves this time — they were diving into the heart of Our Ocean School, a grassroots project teaching English to local kids after school. The trio, fresh off an e-foiling adventure at Seven Palms, rolled up to learn about the initiative and meet the pint-sized legends driving it forward.
The Mission: Our Ocean School’s Big Dream
Tucked in the village of Madobag, Our Ocean School (ouroceanschool.org) is more than an after-school program — it’s the highlight of the day for many Mentawai kids. Unlike Aussie kids, who can’t wait to ditch school at the first hint of a siren, these kids view education as a huge privilege and an opportunity to expand their options in life. They love learning in a way that might shock many Western parents.
Founded to bridge language gaps in a region where tourism is king, the school offers free English classes to primary and high school students, arming them with skills to thrive in a region being transformed by adventure tourism. These kids have access to the internet and see the opportunity that language skills can bring.
With over 250 kids enrolled, classes run in a simple open-air classroom, powered by local teachers and international volunteers. The goal? Empower the next generation to protect their ocean, culture, and future, all while mastering phrases like “Where’s the best surf spot?” and “Do you hire surfboards?”
Zara, 14 and already a Fliteboard trailblazer, was stoked to see kids her age embracing their learning journey. Her favourite subject at high school in Perth, Western Australia, is English.
Nathan, in addition to founding West Coast eFoil, is a professional author himself. Paul, meanwhile, is a co-owner of Villa Mentawai who is never short of words. So the school and its mission had special meaning for our intrepid group of e-foilers.
The Arrival: Children, Chalkboards, and Cheers
The trio took a boat from Villa Mentawai to the main island of Sipora, weaving past mangroves under a blazing equatorial sun, ready to trade stories and soak up the program’s magic. When they arrived on Tua Pajet’s sandy beachfront, the scene looked idyllic. The school, a wooden structure with a tin roof, buzzed with energy. Children were peeking out, giggling and pointing at Zara’s long blonde hair and surf wear. The head teacher, and co-founder, Mentari Maharani, welcomed them with a megawatt smile.
“They’ve been practicing their English for you,” she said, ushering the guests into a timber-clad classroom where 30 kids, aged 8 to 16, sat cross-legged.
Zara, barely older than the students, was an instant hit.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” she asked.
The answers came flying like baitfish. Astronaut. Teacher. Surfer. Pilot. Hotel owner.
“What about a Fisherman?” asked Nathan, who recently completed his coxswains course and was looking enviously at the boats lined along the beach, and men next door tending nets.
“Nooooooo!” came the unanimous reply.
What an insight! Being a boatman or a fisherman in Australia is a path to riches, or at least adventure. It’s draped in mystique and the romance of the high seas. The barriers to entry (boats, qualifications, permits, AMSA certifications) are astounding.
In the Mentawais, the kids are surrounded by hardworking seafarers. It’s regarded as a very tough, smelly, rugged, existence. They have no such Hemingway-esque allusions of the romance of the sea. Meanwhile, we dream of an idyllic island life from the stuffy confines of our battery-hen office existence. Variety and balance truly is the spice of life, particularly when you find yourself exploring the spice islands of the old Dutch East Indies.
Ibu Maharani asked Zara to explain her sport of efoiling to the group.
Do you surf on the water or above it?” a student asked, eyes wide.
Zara laughed, launching into a play-by-play account of eFoiling, miming the Fliteboard’s glide with her outstretched hands. The kids were captivated — but most of all they wanted to know Zara’s TikTok handle.
(Spoiler alert, dad doesn’t let her use TikTok).
Classy Affair: Learning with Stoke
Paul got the older students talking about plastic pollution, using a beach cleanup they’d done as a springboard. “You’re the future of this place,” he told them, describing a turtle he had seen tangled in a net. The kids nodded seriously, understanding their role as custodians.
The next highlight was story time. Zara shared where she lived in Perth, telling the locals about her school and her flying hovercraft. The kids gasped at her tales, then took turns sharing their own stories — fishing, swimming, surfing.
Paul wrapped it up with a call to action: “Learn English, and tell the world to save your reefs.”
The kids scribbled notes, some no doubt adding “Fliteboard” to their vocab lists.
The Impact: Surf, School, and a Shared Future
As the sun dipped, the trio joined the kids with a song. “Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” appears to be a global musical phenomenon.
The vibe was pure Mentawai: raw, real, and full of heart. Zara swapped bracelets with the kids, promising to get on TikTok and send a video of her next e-foil session.
Our Ocean School’s mission hit home for the trio. Zara saw herself in the kids—fearless, curious, ready to take on the world. It was also a huge eye opener about the power and privilege of education.
“I think we really take our school back home for granted,” Zara said, as she wandered away down the unpaved street the leads to the port at Tua Pejat.
Learn more about Our Ocean School’s mission and programs at ouroceanschool.org.