A Hurley H2O & Surf Aid collab — A creative and refreshing take on a charitable project that doesn't make its subjects look like something from a horror film.

The recent hoo-ha around Band Aid 30 should have been enough to persuade anyone that the days of poverty porn (in the name of charity) are over. It’s patronising, no matter how good your intentions are.

Which is why this video ‘Sammy The Explorer’, created by Stefan Hunt for Hurley H2O and SurfAid Sumba, is such a refreshing departure from the usual tummy-turningingly earnest narrative.

The video shows a bunch of surfers (or ‘ocean people’ lol) representing the non-profit organisations, who have worked with local communities over the last three years to build wells providing access to clean and safe drinking water for over 7,000 people.

The relationship between the surfers and the local people is explored in a creative and tongue-in-cheek way and draws light to an interesting and worthwhile project without pulling too hard on the heart strings.

A humble success in the age of overblown Facebook challenge-led campaigns.

Find out more about Hurley H20 and SurfAid Sumba.

Latest on Huck

A forlorn portrait of a Maine fishing village forced to modernise
Culture

A forlorn portrait of a Maine fishing village forced to modernise

Sealskin — Jeff Dworsky’s debut monograph ties his own life on Deer Isle and elegiac family story with ancient Celtic folklore.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Subversive shots of Catholic schoolgirls in ‘80s New York
Culture

Subversive shots of Catholic schoolgirls in ‘80s New York

Catholic Girl — When revisiting her alma mater, Andrea Modica noticed schoolgirls finding forms of self-expression beyond the dress code. Her new photobook documents their intricate styles.

Written by: Isaac Muk

We need to talk about super gonorrhoea
Activism

We need to talk about super gonorrhoea

Test & vaccinate — With infection rates of ‘the clap’ seemingly on the up, as well as a concerning handful of antibiotic resistant cases, Nick Levine examines what can be done to stem the STI’s rise.

Written by: Nick Levine

5 decades ago, Larry Sultan & Mike Mandel redefined photography
Photography

5 decades ago, Larry Sultan & Mike Mandel redefined photography

Evidence — Between 1975 and 1977, the two photographers sifted through thousands of images held by official institutions, condensing them into a game-changing sequence.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Warm portraits of English football fans before the Premier League
Culture

Warm portraits of English football fans before the Premier League

Going to the Match — In the 1991/1992 season, photographer Richard Davis set out to understand how the sport’s supporters were changing, inadvertently capturing the end of an era.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Tbilisi nightclubs to reopen for New Year’s Eve after 40-day strike
Music

Tbilisi nightclubs to reopen for New Year’s Eve after 40-day strike

Dancefloor resistance — Georgian techno havens including BASSIANI and Left Bank have announced parties tonight, having shuttered in solidarity with protests against the country’s government.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Sign up to our newsletter

Issue 81: The more than a game issue

Buy it now