Kenneth Okello
Uganda | Ambassador since 2022
Gulu, Uganda | Skateboards For Hope Ambassador
Kenneth represents the next generation of skateboard leadership in Gulu, Uganda.
Growing up around the Skateboards For Hope community, Kenneth has seen firsthand how a skateboard can become much more than something to ride. Today, he gives back by helping lead weekly skate sessions, mentoring younger skaters and creating a positive space where children can learn, belong and grow.
Reliable, patient and committed to his community, Kenneth understands that leadership is about showing up. Through skateboarding, he encourages young people to build confidence, respect one another, persevere when things get difficult and discover what they are capable of.
For Kenneth, spreading the joy of skateboarding means helping the next child find their confidence and eventually become a leader too.
From skater to mentor to community leader, Kenneth is helping keep the Skateboards For Hope movement rolling in Uganda.
The city of Gulu is located 6 hours drive from the capital, Kampala, and stands at the junction of the major roads to northern Uganda, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic, where there was a 40-year war. The children, many of them orphans and refugees, are treated to the sessions, and it’s where they get to build relationships, life skills, and community.
Kenneth has been a beacon of light for many youths who need guidance from the temptations street life offers. Today, Kenneth is helping grow the skateboarding community in Gulu by leading weekly sessions and mentoring the next generation of skaters. Rain or shine, his commitment goes beyond teaching tricks. He creates a welcoming space where young people build confidence, friendships and leadership skills. With every skateboard shared and every child encouraged, Kenneth is keeping the Skateboards For Hope movement rolling forward in Uganda.
Skateboarding gives us more than tricks. It teaches us to keep trying, to respect each other and to believe in ourselves. Every week, I want the younger skaters to see that they belong here, that they can become leaders too, and that, even when life gets difficult, you keep moving forward one push at a time.”
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