WeSurf Ep. 18: Children of the Sea: The Heart of Fiji with Lea Chin

About this episode

Kwame speaks with Lea Chin about empowering Fijian youth through surfing and leadership development.

In this episode of the WeSurf Podcast, host Kwame speaks with Lea Chin, the Co-founder of Children of the Sea, a program dedicated to empowering Fijian youth through surfing and leadership development. Lea shares her journey from New Jersey to Fiji, the impact of Fijian culture on ocean education, and the importance of community involvement in the program's success. The conversation explores the challenges faced by the program, how success is measured, and the aspirations for the future of Fijian youth in surfing and environmental stewardship. Kwame finally tells the story of when he experienced the best type of localism that you can get in the lineup. Takeaways Children of the Sea empowers Fijian youth through surfing. Lea's journey from New Jersey to Fiji inspires others. The program focuses on leadership development for girls. Community involvement is crucial for the program's success. Fijian culture plays a significant role in ocean education. The program addresses local environmental issues. Success is measured by the kids' progress in surfing and leadership. The future vision includes more opportunities for Fijian youth. Personal stories highlight the importance of…

People in this episode

Host: Kwame

Guest: Lea Chin

Topics covered

• Fijian youth empowerment
• surfing
• leadership development
• community involvement
• ocean education
• environmental stewardship
• cultural heritage

Keywords

• Fiji
• Children of the Sea
• surfing
• leadership
• community
• ocean education
• environmental issues
• cultural heritage

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Children of the Sea, WTF Studios, The Swell Season Surf Radio Network

Places: Fiji, New Jersey

More episodes of WeSurf BIPOC Surf Talk

• Blue Prescription with Demaris Morales · May 21, 2026 · 1h 0m
• Through the Lens with Eli Jules · May 15, 2026 · 1h 6m
• Around the World in 80 waves with Yvettte Cave · March 14, 2026 · 57 min
• Spin Cycle with Chelsea Woody · February 10, 2026 · 36 min
• The Ocean Knows Her Name with Maizy Gordon · January 2, 2026 · 1h 7m
• Sliding Liberia: Beyond the Documentary with Andrew, Brahima & Faith · December 19, 2025 · 1h 14m