Making Waves Foundation launches Winds of Change Lite program in Brisbane
by Making Waves Foundation 30 Oct 2024 22:45 UTC
Winds of Change Lite launches in Brisbane © Making Waves Foundation
Making Waves Foundation (MWF) is thrilled to announce the successful launch of its Winds of Change Lite program in Brisbane, marking a significant expansion of its youth empowerment initiatives in the region.
This new program, a condensed version of the renowned Winds of Change program, is designed to support young people with diverse learning abilities and those who may be considered 'at-risk'. The program delivers the same empowering and engaging sailing experience, yet in a more accessible time frame.
The program launched this morning at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. Students from Wynnum State High School were our first participants. As a former WSHS student, this was a special moment for our major sponsor Mr. Mark Beitz, Managing Director of Bartons.
Mrs. Gaylene Gillard-Beitz and Ms. Kelly McKenna from Bartons greeted the students on arrival and after a quick tour of the boat, Mrs. Gillard-Beitz presented a cheque for $24,500 as part of their ongoing support for our programs. We appreciate the continued support from Bartons who have, in the past 18 months generously donated $54,000 to help fund our continued expansion of programs and our focus on empowering young people in our local community.
As MWF continues to grow, the foundation is focused on expanding its programs throughout Brisbane. We aim to increase our impact and capacity from 459 participants (62 sailing sessions and 18 participants in wheelchairs) in 2024 to impacting and additional 1000 participants by the end of 2026. This provides more youth in need with the opportunity to experience the benefits of sailing as a tool for personal development.
We invite the local community and businesses to join us in supporting this expansion. There are numerous ways to get involved:
- Volunteer to work directly with young people and make an impact in their lives. Join us here: Volunteers - Making Waves
- Sponsor a child for $250 to help provide a life-changing experience through the Winds of Change program. Sponsor here
- Become a Corporate Partner, like Bartons, and support the continued growth of our programs in Queensland. For corporate partnership and sponsorship inquiries, please contact Natalie Herity at or on 0438 649 178.
We call on the Brisbane community and the media to support MWF as we continue to expand our reach, enabling more local youth to develop confidence, resilience, and essential life skills through the power of sailing.