Why Skateboards?
Skateboarding is used as a tool to give socioeconomically disadvantaged children the opportunity to achieve their goals and rise above poverty. We use skateboarding with three actions: reuse, recycle, and revolutionize.
Our mission is crucial
The practice of skateboarding is a powerful tool to support our children’s wellbeing and self-development. By donating skateboards, children can practice skateboarding, foster valuable life skills, and belong to a safe and loving community. With educational projects, we motivate and encourage them to become community-engaged leaders.
What we do
At Skateboards for Hope, we initiate actionable projects such as donating skateboards, implementing skateboard art projects in schools, develop workshops about inclusion and anti-bullying, generate philanthropic community engagement and much more.
Collecting, repairing, and donating used skateboards and gear.
Used skateboard equipment is provided to artists and schools so it can be recycled into arts & crafts and woodworking.
Using skateboarding as a medium to create life-changing opportunities and build positive, inclusive communities for children and youth.
Why? Because skateboarding
Nurtures confidence
Skateboarding encourages children to be healthy, active leaders because it benefits their physical and mental capacities.
Fosters inclusivity
Skateboarding develops a growth mindset; as children push their limits, they realize that anything is possible by learning problem-solving and perseverance.
Motivates youth
Skateboarding embraces universal values such as human rights, inclusion, trust and community.
Creates communities
Driving positive social change, skateboarding connects youth to a global network which encourages them to contribute to their communities.
How it all started
Betty Esperanza is the Founder of Skateboards for Hope. While on a trip to Cuba, Betty—a lifelong shredder—gave a young boy, Yojany Perez her skateboard. Years later, he became the number one skateboarder in Cuba. After a decade of collecting and recycling thousands of used skateboards from Montreal and beyond, Skateboards for Hope has been advocating for children rights by providing access to skateboarding and educational projects to break the cycle of poverty in Canada, First Nations, Cuba and Uganda and many developing countries.
OG BETTY
Betty Esperanza, Founder of Skateboards for hope
Where we’re going, with your help
Our partners
We want to thank all our partners that have provided us with opportunities to do the good work.
