At a time when people around the world may seem to be getting more selfish and lacking in empathy, skaters have a different connection. “On a board, everyone is equal and skin colour doesn’t matter any more,” explains Jackson. “Skateboarding brings people together from different tribes, backgrounds and economic statuses. Some people thought we were crazy and actually laughed at us for bringing skateboards to children who have more urgent needs like food and clothing. But the action and impact speaks louder than words.

Uganda

What began in 2004 as the passion of an individual and his friends is today an established project named the Uganda Skateboard Union, raising its third generation of children to young adults. East African park skating (as opposed to street skating) began in Uganda in 2004 when South African student Shael Swart teamed up with Jackson Mubiru to build a miniramp in Kitintale. The venture was entirely self-built and self-funded. They persuaded a local department store to donate a couple of skateboards to the park so the kids could join in. From the outset, the Uganda Skateboard Union involved the participation of kids living nearby. Once built, it served the dual purpose of being a spot where the older boys could skate as well as providing an opportunity for those less fortunate to get started. This year, with the help of international partners, the project includes a world-class skatepark with an office, workshop and solar lights. It’s mainly the central place for self-empowerment in Kitintale and also one of the safest places to hang out, train, practise and chat after dark. East Africa’s first skatepark is free for everyone to have a good time.

Kenya

Until the last 10 years Nairobi’s urban infrastructure, with its potholes, bumpy roads and few sidewalks, wasn’t exactly a smooth ride. Today, roads and pavements are in better shape and after several months of intense do-it-yourself construction work funded by the German NGO Skate-Aid with the enthusiastic help of local skateboarders, the dream of Kenya’s first skatepark became a reality as Shangilia Skatepark opened in October 2013. At 1,200 square metres, it’s East Africa’s largest skatepark, boasting a bowl, a mini-ramp and a street section with boxes and rails as well as a basketball court and viewing platform. The park is located on the property of the Shangilia School of Performing Arts. Since most of the visitors attend the Shangilia Children’s Home orphanage, the park acts rather as a playground than a skate spot. It’s a place for the children to experience something new, to overcome their doubts and most importantly to enjoy their time. Nowadays you can find local skateboarders mainly at Uhuru Park, at the Shangilia Skatepark and, for beginners, at the upcoming skate facilities at shopping malls in the capital. There are more skateboarders in other cities, too, and there’s even a ‘secret skatepark’ at the amazing Kinondo Kwetu Beach Hotel near Diani Beach. The Skateboarding Society of Kenya is organising the Kenyan skateboarding scene in order to lobby on behalf of its members. Many local initiatives and start-ups like Sidekick Magazine, the Wanderer Skateshop and Nairobi´s first Extreme Sports School are also creating a small income and hopefully future job and business opportunities for the skaters.

Rwanda

Kigali, the city with the thousand hills, is a paradise for longboarding and cruising with your skateboard. In 2016 Skate-Aid built the country’s first skatepark at the SOS Children’s Village in Kigali.

Tanzania

There are quite a few skateboarders across Tanzania and there’s a skatepark in the capital, Dodoma; but the local skateboarding scene doesn’t seem quite as big as in Kenya or Uganda. There are local initiatives and skateboarding blogs and if you visit Dar es Salam you’ll meet skateboarders in the suburbs.

Ethiopia

Ethiopias Capital Addis also got his first skatepark by a global network of skateboarding activists, which fundraised for the construction materials and all came together in 2017 to build the countries first skatepark open to the public. Addis Skatepark was constructed in April, 2016 in collaboration with Make Life Skate Life, a non-profit organization that works with local skateboarding communities to create free of charge, community-built concrete skateparks around the world. The activists worked alongside a team of over 60 volunteer skatepark builders and skateboarders from over 20 countries around the world as they collectively constructed Ethiopia’s first skatepark.

Lessons learned

In the last years, we have realized, that projects, which aren´t operated in cooperation with other so called established “non-profit organisations” have a much higher impact in the communities and form a much stronger community, than for example projects which are based on “closed school /organisation compounds”. We experienced that, free of charge and open skateparks like the the project initiated by the Uganda Skateboard Union and recommend to support grassroot projects.

What you can do?

Make sure, your kids, your neighbours, your community, your city has or builds open spaces for kids, teenagers and even adults to explore their creativity in an open, secure and happy environment. Activities like skateboarding are just an example for topics/arts can inspire and empower especially young people.