Edu-Skate programme

Edu-Skate programme

Over 5 years of innovation & teaching to change lives

Edu-Skate is a global sports programme that empowers children aged 6 – 16 with life-skills through skateboarding. Originally launched and developed by the Concrete Jungle Foundation in 2017, we run the Edu-Skate programme at skateparks. We invest in local staff and infrastructure, partner with local NGOs and collaborate with schools. We use skateboarding to help drive social impact in many global locations through the Edu-Skate Worldwide Network (ESWN).

Edu-Skate programme at the Fiers et Forts Skatepark in Morocco.
Visual timeline of the Edu-Skate programme by Concrete Jungle Foundation.

Peru
Since 2017


386
sessions
40%
girls/women


Angola
In 2019


22
sessions
23%
girls/women


Jamaica
Since 2020


141
sessions
29%
girls/women


Greece
Since 2021, through ESWN


8
sessions
35%
girls/women


Austria
Since 2021, through ESWN


48
sessions
66%
girls/women


Morocco
Since 2022


59
sessions
25%
girls/women


See our Impact Reports

Edu-Skate explained

A life-skill
programme

Edu-Skate programme at the Centre Fiers et Fort in Morocco

We construct skateparks with locals and teach children life-skills through skateboarding.

Activities include:

  • Group discussions
  • Workshops
  • Community activities
  • Field trips
  • Contests

With a focus
on empowerment

Edu-Skate programme in Peru

Our lessons encourage self-belief, confidence and show children how to engage with their creativity.

Lessons focus on:

  • Resilience
  • Perseverance
  • Fun through teamwork
  • Awareness and positive social interactions
  • Expression in a safe space

Serving communities
worldwide

Edu-Skate programme in Angola

The Edu-Skate programme collaborates with local teachers and community leaders around the world.

We:

  • Serve children with a severe lack of recreational activities
  • Collaborate with schools & NGOs
  • Train skateboarding teachers

Based on
research

Edu-Skate programme Research at the Freedom Skatepark in Jamaica

We've used academic research on child psychological development to design edu-skate classes and have tested in the real-world.

This is:

  • Based on self-determination theory1
  • Tested with a pilot study of 21 children in Jamaica
  • Evaluated through monitoring, reporting and learning
  • Combined into a full report to be published in September 2022

1. Ryan RM, Deci EL. Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. Am Psychol. 2000 Jan;55(1):68-78.


The Edu-skate programme uses the skateparks we’ve built and other skateparks to serve youths aged between 6–16 in underserved and disadvantaged communities, we choose communities based on their potential for social impact. This means some youths may live in areas with high crime rates, high drug use or with a severe lack of recreational activities.

Group of children during an Edu-Skate class at the Freedom Skatepark in Jamaica

Edu-Skate uses the attitude embedded in skateboarding culture to promote positive life skills. Every week, the skate lesson focuses on a different life-skill. The curriculum consists of 11 different life-skills:

Overall, teaching life-skills is found to be an effective psychosocial intervention strategy for promoting the positive social and mental health of adolescents. Life-skills can strengthen coping strategies, develop self-confidence, develop emotional intelligence, enhance critical thinking, problem solving and decision making and this has been well documented.1

Illustration of positivity in skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Attitude & positivity
If you don’t try, you don’t learn

Illustration of awareness in skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Awareness
Pay attention to your actions and surrounding

Illustration of confidence in skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Confidence
Challenge yourself step-by-step

Illustration of positivity through skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Respect
Acknowledge each other’s efforts and accomplishments

Illustration of cooperative learning skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Cooperative Learning
Teach others and learn from others

Illustration of resilience  in skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Resilience
Get back up after you fall down

Illustration of Perseverance in skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Perseverance
Don’t give up until you succeed

Illustration of support in skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Support
Encourage each other to succeed

Illustration of courage through skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Courage
Do something that scares you

Illustration of creativity skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Creativity
Create something you imagined

Illustration of teamwork skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Teamwork
Work together to do something you couldn’t do by yourself

Illustration of positivity in skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Attitude & positivity
If you don’t try, you don’t learn

Illustration of awareness in skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Awareness
Pay attention to your actions and surrounding

Illustration of confidence in skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Confidence
Challenge yourself step-by-step

Illustration of positivity through skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Respect
Acknowledge each other’s efforts and accomplishments

Illustration of cooperative learning skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Cooperative Learning
Teach others and learn from others


Illustration of resilience  in skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Resilience
Get back up after you fall down

Illustration of Perseverance in skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Perseverance
Don’t give up until you succeed

Illustration of support in skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Support
Encourage each other to succeed

Illustration of courage through skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Courage
Do something that scares you

Illustration of creativity skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Creativity
Create something you imagined

Illustration of teamwork skateboarding by Arissa Moreno

Teamwork
Work together to do something you couldn’t do by yourself

1. Prajapati et al. Significance of Life Skills Education. Contemporary Issues in Education Research 2017, v10; p1-6.
Illustrations by Arissa Moreno.


Humans can be proactive and engaged or passive and alienated. This difference in attitude can be the result of their social environment. Research guided by self-determination theory (SDT) has focused on the social conditions that support vs delay healthy psychological development and self-motivation. Factors which contribute to motivation, self-regulation and well-being have been examined and three requirements were found to be important:

  • Competence
  • Autonomy
  • Relatedness

When these are satisfied, they yield enhanced self-motivation and mental health and when unsatisfied, they lead to diminished motivation and well-being. The significance of these is also considered within domains such as health care, education, work, sport, religion, and psychotherapy.1

1. Ryan RM, Deci EL. Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. Am Psychol. 2000 Jan;55(1):68-78.

Self Determination Theory benefit

We designed a three-month skateboarding course based on self-determination theory.1 Our pilot study assessed 21 children enrolled in the course by conducting surveys with them and their parents. We found:

  • Children displayed higher levels of autonomy, competence and relatedness after completing three months of lessons
  • The more Edu-Skate lessons undertaken meant higher positive changes in autonomy, competence and relatedness
  • Positive changes in autonomy, competence and relatedness are argued to be fundamental to happy and healthy child development1 and we believe that this promotes positive youth development across children enrolled in Edu-Skate Classes

We also believe Edu-Skate provides a safe-space for children to socialise, learn and grow. In addition to skateboarding, all those involved in the programme are exposed to different practical and psychological tools to help them in life and show them positive and constructive ways to relating to others.

1. Ryan RM, Deci EL. Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. Am Psychol. 2000 Jan;55(1):68-78.

Skateboarding girl with a big smile at the Cerrito's Skatepark in Peru.

The Concrete Jungle Foundation Edu-Skate programme has a worldwide presence through the Edu-Skate Worldwide Network.

Edu-Skate worldwide Map
Icon location

Austria with Skateboard Club Vienna
France with All Boards Family
Greece with Free Movement Skateboarding
Jamaica with CJF Jamaica
Morocco with CJF Morocco
The Netherlands with Woman Skate the World
United Kingdom with Skate Nottingham
Peru with CJF Peru


Stories

icon article

Aug 22, 2022 · 4 min read

CJF Blog Preview

Over 5 years of changing lives with CJF Edu-Skate



In 2017, Peruvian children who had never seen a skateboard before were given one for the first time thanks to the Concrete Jungle Foundation’s Edu-Skate Programme. Now, some of them are shredding the local streets.

icon article

Jun 23, 2021 · 2 min read

CJF Blog Preview

Researching Skateboarding in Jamaica: Part 1



Our June residency at Stranded FM was broadcasted from the Caribbean shoreline of Bull Bay, Jamaica. Over three months we are working with Concrete Jungle Foundation on an ambitious research project to record the impact of The Freedom Skatepark one year after construction.

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May 28, 2021 · 4 min read

CJF Blog Preview

Interview with the Energetic Nomads from Jamaica



A year after they started skateboarding, we caught up with the Energetic Nomads, the first group of graduates from the Edu-Skate programme at the Freedom Skatepark. They have grown into a close-knit group that spends most of their days together. Get to know the group better through the following group interview.

icon article

Oct 2, 2020 · 2 min read

CJF Blog Preview

Sharing the passion for Skateboarding in Peru - in times of COVID


On Friday, March 13th, six and a half months ago, we did our usual closing circle at “La Rampa,” our skate ramp in Cerrito de La Virgen, Huanchaco. This circle is one of our favorite times during an Edu-Skate lesson because both kids and volunteers have the opportunity to share what they learned and how they felt that day ...

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