A group of young skaters come together every other evening at socially contracted venues in Nairobi and battle it out on the skateboards. Among them, the Uhuru Park podium, where they meet after school, work or hustles and are joined by street children, whose lives are getting transformed. No pre-arrangements, messages or phone calls- it’s a silent commitment; an ‘I’ll see you there’ culture.

While we are all waiting for the next big thing to happen – be it on the newspaper, a popular talk show or a viral video on your social media feed – a board about a foot long on wheels has been changing lives of Kenyan youth caught in the midst of trying to cope with the country’s inability to find a place for them. For those in Nairobi, urban poverty is either a reality or a looming threat. Ever so often, a great idea from the youth hits the jackpot. Might this be the next big thing?

Kelvin, 24, describes skateboarding as growing a pair of wings. “I was battling stress, bad health, severe lower back pain, bullying in school, feeling like a loser, family issues – basically everything wrong with life. I had lost all hope and I thought God was silent on me. I was looking for happiness, and remembered the one thing that made me happy as a child but I never got a chance to explore,” the skateboard he once tried making from the backrest of a wooden chair and suitcase wheels. Not without the kind of consequences one gets from an African mother.

Kelvin grew up in the Mt. Kenya region in farmland, around animals, but had the opportunity to sometimes watch movies, where he first saw a skateboard that intrigued him and his craftsmanship. That may not have worked out as planned, but it planted a seed in him that was germinating without his knowledge, only to bud over 15 years later.

SKATING AS A COMMUNITY PROJECT

The humbling worldview of the skaters puts the rest of us to shame. They demonstrate in their ethos that you do not have to have much to give much. There is no right time to be a good person. You do not have to wait until you ‘make it in life’ to love your neighbour.

“It is more like an apprenticeship where you share skills and pass them on to the next person,” Kelvin explains. Having managed to build a network for himself with corporates that supported his skating to showcase their brands, he managed to share some merchandise and boards with other skaters in need of them. Kelvin has also been at the forefront of encouraging girls to partake the sport, with quite a number catching up on the scene.

The legend of this apprenticeship goes that in the Komarock estate of Nairobi one lad had a skateboard – the only one. The young chaps around the area would all borrow it to have a go. At that time, the video game Tony Hawk was introduced, so they’d use it to try out new tricks. Out of this the Skateboarding Society of Kenya was created. This enabled the skaters to acquire a permit to skate at Uhuru Park. Over time, the younger skaters wanted something more relatable for them and went on to form the Skatenation254.

Among the moving stories is that of George, 22, who lived with two former street boys in the Uthiru settlement as their guardian, sharing whatever little he had. Ezra aka Balo, 12, and Samuel aka Mwangi, 14, would come and watch the crew churning stunts at Uhuru Park. Once they got on the skateboard, they unleashed some kind of innate ability that was simply waiting to get discovered; they moved effortlessly and fearlessly. Samuel and Ezra, through this skating community, managed to get sponsorship and are now going to school. They live with new caregivers in Donholm estate supported by the Smile Foundation Kenya.
“I talked to people but after several rejections, we opened a Facebook and Instagram Page The Keedz, where we initially managed to get support for the boys through a volunteer in the NGO Skate-Aid,” explained George.

SKATING AS AN INCLUSIVE SOCIAL SPACE & THE CHALLENGES

As long as you want to skateboard, you are family. Race, ethnicity, gender, age, social status does not matter.

“I see you with a board, I’ll stop you, I’ll say hi and we will start talking about skateboarding and maybe even have a session right there and then,” says Kelvin. “The joy and happiness that comes with it; the art of patience, when you have literally tired a stunt about 90 times before you finally get it; the perseverance of hoping to earn a living from skateboarding,” he adds

Essentially, street skating is not limited to anything but your imagination and how skilled you are in the craft. Many of the skaters have given up antisocial behaviour because they have found something they can do and be good at, while being part of a family.

However, this has not been without challenges from the authorities, “Some may harass you and even arrest you.They don’t really understand how much this means to us and how many lives it has saved … how many people found a reason to either quit or reduce drinking, so that they can skate better and be healthier,” said Kelvin. Try to explain that to the cops, and the next thing you know, you are in handcuffs.

The initial cost of owning a skateboard is another challenge. Sometimes boards break. Though generally durable, they require an investment of about Kshs 14,000 – 17,000. The boards are not readily available locally and they do cause wear and tear of shoes. The shoes being yet another factor to consider: for durability, better performance and safer skating the shoes ought to have a sole with minimal tread pattern and a leather or suede upper with double or triple stitching.

THE VISION

The vision of these youth is for skating to be recognised as a sport that has something significant to contribute to the country in terms of inclusivity, eradicating poverty and giving the youth a chance to be good at something. They envision representing Kenya in the 2020 Olympics in Japan, if the government is keen on supporting this initiative.

Kelvin has been fortunate to start earning a living from skating. He hopes that the other skaters will also be able to see their skill bring a livelihood to them; making a living out of their passion.

Beyond that, is something deeper for the likes of Kelvin- the Skate Ministry. “God used my skateboarding to bring me to the faith,” Kelvin said, explaining that his renewed faith gave him a renewed sense of purpose on the skateboard.

One step ahead in the vision was being featured on the Inside Africa segment of CNN International. The exposure and subsequent sponsorship, working with brands and endorsements, will lead them to being able to build indoor skate parks in Kenya, open 24/7. They also envision local skateboarding shops and skateboard companies.

For Kelvin, he hopes to grow the Skate Ministry of believers ready to impact the world positively.

Do you have an idea that can support the vision of skatenation254? Write to us on storytelling@byawoman.com

One skateboard can change someone’s world …

Images by Ojwok Photography

Meet the featured skatenation254 members

Kelvin, 24

Working with brands, with various ministries and video editing. Planning to study theology.

Why skating: It was always an interest, which ended up becoming a calling that renewed my faith and gave me a purpose in life.

Hope for Kenya: Indoor skateparks open 24/7 to anyone from anywhere. For Kenyan skaters to take part in the 2020 Olympics in Japan.

IG: KelvinMurage_kenyanskater

Antony, 22

Studying BS in Chemistry at the University of Nairobi

Why skating? Problems can’t skate; it’s an outlet. I meet people from different backgrounds, it’s not limited to a social class.

Hope for Kenya: For young people to discover their talents early enough, when they still have time to have make an impact; for our society to appreciate talent; formal education isn’t everything, there’s a lot young people can do.

IG: antony_create

Simon, 22

Studying Film and Theatre Arts

Why skating: It’s an escape from reality, my drug to deal with what I can’t cope with or control. It feels great – the joy out of wheels on a plank of wood.

Hopes for Kenya: To see more people skateboarding and not looking at it as vandalism – they look at it as if we are wasting our time. Acceptance – for society to see it from our perspective and embrace skateboarding as a sport and a form of art.

IG: _certified_misfit

George, 22

Studying Architecture at JKUAT (Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology). Also a guardian to Ezra and Samuel – formerly street kids.

Why skating: It is a fun and social activity that brings young people of all backgrounds together.

Hope for Kenya: A country where people can express themselves. More social places that are inclusive. Somewhere in the world skateboarding is a career for someone,I hope the same for Kenya.

IG: george_zuko

Ezra, 12

Samuel, 14

Ezra, aka Balo, and Samuel, aka Mwangi, used to be a street boy. They would come watch the skaters at Uhuru Park and borrow a skateboard. Very quickly they became pros and with the help of the other skaters got off the streets and started going to school.

Christabel, 20

Studying Statistics at the Technical University of Kenya.

Why skating: I was curious about skating since I was a child. I connected with the longboarder Abuga Aroni on IG and found this crew. It gives me inspiration and a new sense of life.

Hopes for Kenya: The older generation and the youth need to reconnect to help each other.We are divided.

IG: cheri_blossums

Agnes, 19

Studying Airport Operations at Nairobi Aviation College.

Why skating: I find it to be lots of fun and a great way to meet other young people.

Hopes for Kenya: To have proper skate parks and support for the sport.

IG: leiserfazzie

Christine, 18

Studying computer science at Egerton University.

Why skating: It’s relaxing, give me peace, it’s a passion.

Hopes for Kenya: For us to get away from tribalism and corruption and to live peacefully together. For the youth to have better access to mentorship and guidance.

IG: Me_lanin._

Edith, 23

Works as a procurement officer.

Why skating: It’s explorative and thrilling. I love the falling and getting up to try again.

Hopes for Kenya: Unity and peace.

IG: edith_ngeshville

Hadassah, 23

Studying geospatial information.

Why skating: The adrenalin, the speed and trying new stunts.

Hopes for Kenya: A place where we can all feel comfortable to call it home.

IG: _.shibako._