Indigo Youth Movement aim to create safe spaces, access to mentors and to skateboarding programmes to promote the wellbeing of our South African youth. Skateboarding is an expression of freedom that knows no limits and boundaries. This makes it a popular activity amongst our South African youth as they scramble daily for identity and a sense of belonging on our streets. In an attempt to include at risk youths, Indigo Youth Movement sets out to nurture sustainable skateboarding environments in the most unlikely places.
Our roots are essential in growing and advocating the activity of skateboarding. We are stoked that skate parks are finally being built throughout SA but without the presence of ‘established skateboarders’ and the availability of good equipment, skate parks can so easily become anything but a place to skate.
Step into Indigo Youth Movement and we bring a new lease on life in these facilities and for at risk youths. Our programs are based on creating a support structure for individuals and the facility as a whole. Indigo Youth Movement aims to recruit young mentors that have a passion to see positive change within their communities. Indigo Youth Movement identifies and empowers these individuals by giving them the correct skills sets and access to equipment to run our programs.
Our skate instructors become mentors to participants and provide roadmaps to disenfranchised youths looking for a way out of trouble. Social integration is one of our biggest mandates and we find that the skateboarding community in SA is all inclusive and paving the way in transformation. Through events and tours we provide a platform for youths to develop longlasting bonds and connections beyond their comfort zones.
Valhalla is one of the most dangerous gang infested areas around Cape Town. Situated in the middle of the Cape Flats, bordering the airport and it’s industrial zone. It has one of the highest crime rate in our country and has become home for Indigo Youth Movement’s skate instruction programs since 2016 when local government acknowledged the effectiveness of our presence at other sites.
Indigo Youth Movement skate programs caters an effective curriculum that tackles the common issues that youth face in their daily lives. We share skate park etiquette and encourage unity in skate parks in a non competitive environment that is all inclusive, we hope that lessons learnt in the skate park can be taken into life.
Most of our skate lesson plans and life skills components play themselves out in the skate park, we feel that while at play our youths are engaged to learn and positive traits can be passed on effectively. It’s about creating a harmonious environment, a circle of support treating everyone equally and giving everyone a voice on a neutral platform. It’s these daily gatherings before our sessions that youths are attracted to, having some consistency and structure is welcomed amongst the urban chaos surrounding most facilities we operate in.
