This week we wanted to start the "Skull Bowl Project" for our Uganda project. In cooperation with our partner Jack, from the "Uganda Skateboard Union", we will add a bowl to the skate park. Since the project has been so successful so far, we will also send additional volunteers to Uganda this year to support the locals in their weekly workshops so that even more kids have the opportunity to take part. Our project coordinator Gabu wanted to head to Kampala this week to start the construction. The grand opening was planned for June ... BUT ...

Wir starten eine neue Runde „Skaten statt Ritalin“ – 3 Monate skaten für Kids mit ADHS!
Die Workshops im Rahmen des Projektes „Skaten statt Ritalin“ richten sich an Kinder im Alter zwischen 8 und 14 Jahren, bei denen ADHS diagnostiziert wurde. In wöchentlich stattfindenden Workshops können die Kinder selbstbestimmt Skateboard fahren, Spaß haben, ihre Erfolge feiern und dabei ihrem Bewegungsdrang freien Lauf lassen. Unterstützt werden sie dabei von erfahrenen Skateboard-Coaches, die ihnen bei Bedarf Tipps und Hilfestellung geben...

I went to Palestine not knowing what to expect. I went into the unknown. Looking back, I think I just had some blind faith in the power of skateboarding. Somehow, I knew everything would turn out all right with my skateboard by my side. Now, after the experience my belief in the positive effects of skateboarding is stronger than ever. It’s hard not to sound cliché when writing about international volunteering. It’s such a romanticized topic. I will try to be as honest as possible and tell you about one experience I had that stayed with me...

For the first time in my life I get an insight view of the poetry of skateboarding. Skating means to make impossible dreams possible, that's what Jack from Uganda told me. He is now 40 years old and can still remember when he saw the first skateboard of his life. How he tried desperately to make friends with the owner. How he built the first skate park in Uganda and that the authorities had no idea what he was up to. How he shared his first skateboard with others until he could hardly ride it himself...

Today, a lot of topics are addressed and new goals are worked on: coordination in the skate parks, storage options for the boards, networking with authorities and partners, planning new skate parks, composition of various surfaces in the parks, drainage, team building, living situation of the volunteers and much more. Even in the evening you can still feel the energy of the day...

„I’m on the plane from Frankfurt to Namibia. It’s my first trip to Africa with skate-aid and I am full of anticipation. Above all, I’m looking forward to meet the kids, who are primarily hearing and visually impaired in this special project and who want to skate with the skate-aid crew...

With 60kg (!) of skateboard stuff in his luggage, project manager Tobi made his way to Syria last week. Incidentally, this is still the only way for us to provide our workshops in Qudsaya / Damascus with the necessary material. Due to the political situation, it’s not possible to send packages to Syria or to fly directly to Syria. The entry was only achievable through Lebanon and with help of good contacts of our project partner, the SOS Children's Villages.

We got real big plans for this year and will stay true to our motto: WE EMPOWER KIDS!

To get in the mood, we start with some memories of our trip to Rwanda, including TV presenter André Gatzke and comedian Simon Gosejohann. A film by Krolop & Gerst supported by Nikon. Many thanks to Vans, Independent Trucks, Santa Cruz Skateboards, Creature Skateboards, TSG INTERNATIONAL and all the other partners for supporting our worldwide projects!

We also would like to give out another big thank you to ALL the donors would so generously supported us last year. Thanks to you we’ll be moving a lot. So stay tuned!!!

On the November23rd the C & A skate-aid-night supported by innogy took place at the Skaters Palace in Münster.

For the 14th time host and skate-aid founder Titus Dittmann invited under the motto "celebrate and support". to this awesome charity event. More than 280 invited guests and celebrities from all over Germany experienced an entertaining and moving night. A great atmosphere, a thrilling show and music program and of course the wonderful success stories from the skate-aid projects contributed to a unique gala. From the raffle and "Silent Auction” to the “Hall Auction”…there were a lot of opportunity to do good and in the end the amazing amount of around € 70,000 came together for skate-aid!

We got real big plans for this year and will stay true to our motto: WE EMPOWER KIDS!

To get in the mood, we start with some memories of our trip to Rwanda, including TV presenter André Gatzke and comedian Simon Gosejohann. A film by Krolop & Gerst supported by Nikon. Many thanks to Vans, Independent Trucks, Santa Cruz Skateboards, Creature Skateboards, TSG INTERNATIONAL and all the other partners for supporting our worldwide projects!

We also would like to give out another big thank you to ALL the donors would so generously supported us last year. Thanks to you we’ll be moving a lot. So stay tuned!!!