The Hope Dealers: Jozi Kids Find Their Feet on Four Wheels

Photo Credit: The Hope Dealers

Homework first, kickflips second! Skateistan is helping Jozi kids build confidence on and off the skateboard.

Johannesburg, South Africa (02 September 2026) – Mandy Wiener is back with another episode of The Hope Dealers, where she tells the stories of people changing the narrative in the city of Joburg. The series shines a light on the good people doing good things for the city and its communities.

In this week’s episode, Wiener visits Skateistan in New Doornfontein – a space where Jozi’s kids receive educational support and are empowered through skateboarding.

The programme first started on the war-torn streets of Afghanistan in the 2000s. It began as a safe space where children could learn, play and begin shaping their futures, offering meaningful support against a backdrop of inequality, forced migration, gender discrimination, violence and racism.

Skateistan now has a presence in some of the most insecure and unequal communities around the world. Its Jozi headquarters, run by executive director Charl Jensen, combines skateboarding with educational support and youth leadership.

The programme offers daily homework support classes for students inside its funky three-storey container building overlooking the skatepark. It gives learners a structured and supervised environment where they can do their homework and school assignments, receive guidance from facilitators and build positive study habits.

Once learners have received the educational support they need, they’re encouraged to hit the skatepark, where they build resilience, courage and confidence on the board.

This two-pronged approach to skateboarding and skills development gives the city’s young school-goers practical, transferable skills. Beyond educational support and learning to skate, the programme also helps young people understand how their interests and passions could translate into real economic opportunities.

Through a collaboration with Crispy Skateboards, a local skateboard manufacturing company on Fox Street, students are taken on site visits to learn about the full production process – from preparing and pressing the wood to assembling finished boards. Along the way, they learn about manufacturing, entrepreneurship and the value chain within the skate industry.

Skateistan South Africa reached more than 64,000 young people nationwide last year. The programme runs five days a week, with a strong focus on gender inclusion. Girls-only sessions help address the gender divide and give girls an equal opportunity to get involved.

The organisation also runs a youth leadership programme that gives school kids hands-on learning experiences in areas such as starting a business, baking as a micro-enterprise, fashion design and multimedia production.

Skateistan is the fifth of ten inspiring stories featured in The Hope Dealers, each introducing South Africans who are making the city a better place in practical ways.

You can follow Mandy’s journey via her social media. Check out her Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X for more information.

The series will also be available on Primedia+, EWN and across Primedia and Mandy’s social media platforms. The audio interviews will also be released as podcasts and broadcast on The Midday Report.