‘Skate for Social Change’ Programme: Engaging Girls Through Skateboarding in Brazil
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By Alexandra Flores I Laureus Sport for Good
Girls from Northeast Brazil, accompanied by their representatives, embarked on a life-changing journey to São Paulo.
They travelled 3,000 kilometres to share and grow their experience of the power of skateboarding through the ‘Skate for Social Change’ programme.
The trip surpassed their expectations, and they returned home inspired to do more with skateboarding in their communities.
The Skate for Social Change initiative, powered by Laureus Sport for Good, Sport for Social Change Network (SSCN), Nike, with the strategic support of Non-Governmental Organisation Social Skate, aims to develop skateboarding, especially for girls, in Northeast Brazil. Olympic and World Championship medallist Rayssa Leal, a role model from the region, has been involved since its inception.
For many of these girls, this was their first time leaving their home region and immersing themselves in an experience that opened new possibilities for their future.
One of the girls Adrielly reflected: "These days have been a unique and wonderful experience for me. I’ve always dreamed of this, since I was a little."
The trip surpassed their expectations, and they returned home inspired to do more with skateboarding in their communities.
The Skate for Social Change initiative, powered by Laureus Sport for Good, Sport for Social Change Network (SSCN), Nike, with the strategic support of Non-Governmental Organisation Social Skate, aims to develop skateboarding, especially for girls, in Northeast Brazil. Olympic and World Championship medallist Rayssa Leal, a role model from the region, has been involved since its inception.
For many of these girls, this was their first time leaving their home region and immersing themselves in an experience that opened new possibilities for their future.
One of the girls Adrielly reflected: "These days have been a unique and wonderful experience for me. I’ve always dreamed of this, since I was a little."
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A Programme for Empowerment and Equality
The programme collaborates with three local organizations - Associação Conexão Social, Associação Atletas Sal e Luz and Instituto Esporte Mais – by providing grant funding and leadership training, these organisations are better equipped to support and transform young people’s lives through skateboarding.
Launched in mid-2024, Skate for Social Change fosters gender equality, builds confidence and strengthens communities. Rayssa Leal has helped change perceptions about skateboarding in Brazil.
Clara, a participant from Instituto Esporte Mais, noted: "This sport was seen as something for vagabonds. Now parents encourage their children to practice it."
A Community of Learning and Growth
Beyond learning skateboarding techniques, the trip allowed the girls to bond with peers from other regions and embrace the skateboarding community.
For Maria, another participant from Associação Conexão Social, said meeting others who enjoyed skateboarding was a highlight: "I learned new tricks and I could teach them mine."
This trip also gave programme leaders a chance to exchange knowledge, share methodologies and explore how the skateboarding can create social change in their organisations.
2Sport can be a powerful agent of social transformation, expanding opportunities and strengthening communities," said Ana Carrança, SSCN director, who oversees local programme execution in Brazil.
"These new tools will help them show that skateboarding can - and should - be a diverse and inclusive environment," she added.
The programme collaborates with three local organizations - Associação Conexão Social, Associação Atletas Sal e Luz and Instituto Esporte Mais – by providing grant funding and leadership training, these organisations are better equipped to support and transform young people’s lives through skateboarding.
Launched in mid-2024, Skate for Social Change fosters gender equality, builds confidence and strengthens communities. Rayssa Leal has helped change perceptions about skateboarding in Brazil.
Clara, a participant from Instituto Esporte Mais, noted: "This sport was seen as something for vagabonds. Now parents encourage their children to practice it."
A Community of Learning and Growth
Beyond learning skateboarding techniques, the trip allowed the girls to bond with peers from other regions and embrace the skateboarding community.
For Maria, another participant from Associação Conexão Social, said meeting others who enjoyed skateboarding was a highlight: "I learned new tricks and I could teach them mine."
This trip also gave programme leaders a chance to exchange knowledge, share methodologies and explore how the skateboarding can create social change in their organisations.
2Sport can be a powerful agent of social transformation, expanding opportunities and strengthening communities," said Ana Carrança, SSCN director, who oversees local programme execution in Brazil.
"These new tools will help them show that skateboarding can - and should - be a diverse and inclusive environment," she added.
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Building a Future Through Skateboarding
These three organisations, while experienced in some aspects of youth development, they lacked some specific resources, training and structured support for using skateboarding as a social development tool.
For Instituto Esporte Mais and Associação Conexão Social, both of which had limited prior experience with skateboarding, the training sessions in São Paulo provided not only practical skills but also a clear strategy for incorporating skateboarding into their youth programmes.
"The Skate for Social Change programme will leave a legacy beyond these three organisations," said Amanda Lima, Head of Programmes for Laureus Sport for Good, who supports organisational capacity building and partnership in Skate for Social Change programme.
The programme is providing organisations in the sport-for-development sector with tools to positively impact their participants.
Laura Lima, skateboarding coach from Instituto Esporte Mais noted, "I learned a lot of good things for our institution, and I still have a lot more to learn and take back to my kids.2
A Lasting Impact on Communities
Many of the girls who started with little to no skateboarding experience are now standing out in their communities.
Feedback from the participants reflects how the sport has helped boost their confidence and encouraged them to take on new challenges.
"Many of them report on increased self-confidence, along with a strong sense of belonging to both the sport and skateboarding culture," said Ana Carrança from SSCN.
Laureus believes that, as Skate for Social Change programme continues, the groundwork laid through these collaborations ensures skateboarding remains a powerful tool for fostering gender equity, boosting confidence and creating safe spaces for girls breaking into a male-dominated sport.
Carrança highlighted, "When girls occupy this space, they expand their own perspectives and encourage other young women to do the same."
These three organisations, while experienced in some aspects of youth development, they lacked some specific resources, training and structured support for using skateboarding as a social development tool.
For Instituto Esporte Mais and Associação Conexão Social, both of which had limited prior experience with skateboarding, the training sessions in São Paulo provided not only practical skills but also a clear strategy for incorporating skateboarding into their youth programmes.
"The Skate for Social Change programme will leave a legacy beyond these three organisations," said Amanda Lima, Head of Programmes for Laureus Sport for Good, who supports organisational capacity building and partnership in Skate for Social Change programme.
The programme is providing organisations in the sport-for-development sector with tools to positively impact their participants.
Laura Lima, skateboarding coach from Instituto Esporte Mais noted, "I learned a lot of good things for our institution, and I still have a lot more to learn and take back to my kids.2
A Lasting Impact on Communities
Many of the girls who started with little to no skateboarding experience are now standing out in their communities.
Feedback from the participants reflects how the sport has helped boost their confidence and encouraged them to take on new challenges.
"Many of them report on increased self-confidence, along with a strong sense of belonging to both the sport and skateboarding culture," said Ana Carrança from SSCN.
Laureus believes that, as Skate for Social Change programme continues, the groundwork laid through these collaborations ensures skateboarding remains a powerful tool for fostering gender equity, boosting confidence and creating safe spaces for girls breaking into a male-dominated sport.
Carrança highlighted, "When girls occupy this space, they expand their own perspectives and encourage other young women to do the same."
