Born and raised in Istanbul, Deniz Toprak often visited Ordu, his paternal homeland, during his childhood. Emphasizing that traveling the world and visiting many places has been one of his favorite hobbies since high school, Deniz began to question, based on his experiences with different cultures, whether it was possible to live a life that followed a different pattern from the ones that are commonly accepted.

Deniz was introduced to surfing for the first time in 2011, and after a few visits to Sri Lanka, decided to move there as he began shaping his life around the sport. In the coastal town where he settled, he witnessed how surfing transformed the theme and story of a place. This led him to believe that the stories of any city can be reimagined, ultimately contributing to the well-being of the people living there.

Building on his initial experiences in Sri Lanka, he launched his surf training courses in Ordu, and in 2023, he extended his efforts to Hatay with the goal of rewriting the story of the city and its children. This decision came after he saw the coastline in Samandağ, Hatay, while he was volunteering to support people following the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes. After locals and fishermen told him that the Samandağ coastline was suitable for surfing, Deniz planted the seeds of the Hatay Surf Center by initially providing a few children with surfing lessons.

Hatay Surf Center is a non-profit organization with a mission to introduce teenagers under 16 living in Samandağ, Defne, and Antakya to surfing free of charge. Since its foundation, Hatay Surf Center has offered free surfing lessons to 1,053 children. Training is provided at three different levels. Theoretical surfing training begins with the school summer break, followed by practical courses, and children eager to progress through all stages continue gaining experience as shadow surfers alongside their trainers. When a trainee advances to the third level, they receive academic education support art classes, and English education, benefiting from a holistic approach that allows the child to develop themselves in all disciplines. Each student is picked up from and delivered to their home by shuttle service and has access to healthy food and snacks provided alongside their training at the Center. The entire set of these services is provided free of charge, and the Center hosts both theoretical and practical courses. All fieldwork is strictly guided by procedures that include child protection, gender equality, inclusivity for people with disabilities, safety and healthcare. Through his dedicated efforts, Deniz aims to raise generations who feel connected to their roots, themselves, and nature.

Deniz, citing a survey they conducted, argue that nearly 10 million children and young people under 19 in Türkiye live within an hour’s distance of a coastline ideal for surfing. This is why, together with the Hatay Surf Center, they continue their efforts to make their work spread in all coastline cities in Türkiye, introduce children to the sport and support the development of these areas.

Having succeeded in reaching thousands of children in Hatay through the Hatay Surf Center, Deniz Toprak not only brings the joy of surfing free of charge to children and young people who have endured the hardships of the earthquake but also supports them in their academic studies, continuing to make a meaningful difference in their lives.