Skate for the vulnerable youth
MABONENG – Skate school is officially open to empower the youth.
The skate school which intends to empower vulnerable youth is officially open.
The opening of Skateistan has been a much-anticipated event, with a number of high-profile contributors coming together to open the fifth school of its kind and the first in Johannesburg.
The non-governmental organisation is an international award-winning organisation which uses skateboarding to teach and empower vulnerable youth, aged from five to 17, and especially young girls.
Read: UPDATE: Skateistan gets interior assistance
Trine Rask Thygesen, Skateistan’s Danish ambassador opened the floor at the official opening of the school in Maboneng on 15 August. “We are proud to be a part of this project since the inception in 2013 when we came to South Africa on a fact-finding mission to assess whether a Skateistan project like this could develop and boost the youth.
“Today, three years of hard work culminates here.”
Also at the launch was professional US skateboarding legend, Tony Hawk, who is a major contributor to the Johannesburg skate school. “I have been amazed at how the school can reach kids.
“I knew skateboarding spoke to children and gave them a sense of self-confidence and a sense of individuality that they haven’t found elsewhere, but [the school] found a way to connect [children] that have never experienced skateboarding and inspire them to believe in themselves and use this as a tool for education as well.
“The idea that [the school] is combining education and skateboarding is perfect. The idea that Skateistan is inspiring girls to skate equally as much as boys is so progressive.”
Chief executive officer of Skateistan, Oliver Percovich expressed his excitement about working with the local team to open the school. “This is an incredible day. The South African team has been incredible right from the start.
“Our youth leaders are young South Africans volunteering their time to build up and show an example for the future – and the youth needs to be future focused and build skills, and that’s exactly what we aim to do here.”
Read: Skate to educate
Also contributing to the opening of the school was artist Paul McCarthy who did artwork on a skateboard to sell in order to raise funds for the school, at the SK8room, an initiative by Charles Antoine Bodson, where boards with designer artwork is sold for good causes.
Now open for business in Johahnnesburg’s Maboneng Precinct, the school will run a number of programmes for the disadvantaged youth of Johannesburg to take part in.
