Established by professional skateboarder Dallas Oberholzer, the aim is to build skating environments, as the organisation calls them, in spots you wouldn’t usually expect to find any. (Images: Indigo Skate Camp, via Facebook)
Think urban jungle and youngsters, and skateboarding comes to mind. It’s a popular past time, both a sport and a way of getting around.
But besides a board, which can be expensive, you need concrete to skate – which means it’s difficult for disadvantaged rural kids.
But this is where Indigo Skate Camp steps in. Established by professional skateboarder Dallas Oberholzer, the aim is to build skating environments, as the organisation calls them, in spots you wouldn’t usually expect to find any.
The first of these projects was established outside a small village in KwaZulu-Natal’s Valley of a Thousand Hills. Since 2001 it has grown from strength to strength, thanks to the help of more fortunate members who attend the camp.
GROWTH THROUGH SKATE
The camp has gone on to employ 35 young people from the surrounding villages through its tourist ambassadors programme, providing a steady source of income for them and their families.
As the programme grew in popularity, Oberholzer and his team developed a training manual that worked a range of different life skills into the curriculum to help add value to the experience the youth would have at their projects.
Indigo also offers its more accomplished members the opportunity to become instructors and take the programmes to neighbouring villages and provinces to spread the impact of the camp and its teachings.
SKATE PARK CONSTRUCTION
Years spent building skate parks has given Indigo Skate the skills to design and construct some of the country’s finest facilities, and it now offers these services to the public.
If you or someone you know wants to get the wheels rolling on the construction of a local skate park, call Oberholzer on 083 453 6385.
Think urban jungle and youngsters, and skateboarding comes to mind, but Indigo Skate Camp has brought skating to rural youth so they can experience the same joys as their urban counterparts.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Indigo Skate Camp welcomes anyone looking to get involved in its activities, whether it’s a donation of funds to help it on its journey or an extra set of hands to help it in the day-to-day activities.
Those looking to sponsor the Indigo Skate Camp can have a look at its sponsorship page website for banking details and how to go about it.
Volunteers also looking to get their hands dirty for the good of the Indigo Skate Camp can have a look at the volunteering page for more details.
PLAY YOUR PART
Are you playing your part to help improve the lives of the people around you or the environment? Do you know of anyone who has gone out of their way to help improve South Africa and its people?
If so, submit your story or video to our website and let us know what you are doing to improve the country for all.
