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Young people across Belgium face mounting challenges: rising mental health issues, increasing poverty and persistent barriers to participation in spaces traditionally dominated by one gender or group. For girls in particular, skateboarding remains seen as a “boys’ sport,” leaving many on the sidelines. But what if a skateboard could be more than just a sport? What if it could be a pathway to belonging, resilience and confidence for those who need it most?
Picture a skate park in Hasselt, Belgium in 2015. Boards clatter against concrete. Skaters perfect their tricks. But look closer, and you’ll notice something: the girls are standing on the sidelines.
Sanny, Cindy and Sara saw this too. And they decided to change it.
From Sidelines to Center Stage
What started as simple weekly lessons for hesitant girls has grown into Niña Skates, an organization that’s redefining what skateboarding can do for young people across Belgium. Today, they’re proving that a skateboard isn’t just a toy or a sport: it’s a tool for transformation.
While 70% of participants are still people who identify as girls and women (staying true to the founders’ original mission), Niña Skates now welcomes anyone who faces barriers: young newcomers learning Dutch, children with Down syndrome, youth in psychiatric care and kids in foster homes. Young people from families facing financial hardship can attend lessons at reduced rates or for free. If you need a place to belong, there’s room for you on four wheels.
“Skateboarding is more than just a sport for our participants,” explains Sara, co-founder of Niña Skates. “It is a safe space where they learn that falling down and getting back up is okay. They carry that resilience with them to school, work and their entire lives. Through skateboarding, we want to teach young people to push their boundaries, at their own pace. We also want to facilitate friendships to develop naturally.”
A Program That Keeps Growing
Since 2021, the nonprofit has been working with newcomers to Belgium, discovering something beautiful: skateboarding creates the perfect environment for language learning, building self-confidence and developing essential life skills needed to integrate fully into a new community. Young people practice Dutch naturally while learning to skate, and some even become instructors themselves, continuing to develop their skills while giving back.
Niña Skates has partnered with Hasselt’s sports department and Autism Leeft to provide specialized lessons for children with autism. They arrive at Warande School in Diest whenever students need an hour to clear their heads. Throughout 2023, they reached youth in boarding schools, foster care and psychiatric facilities.
“I can simply be who I am,” shares Kobe, a member with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). “I find all the instructors kind and feel there is no pressure or expectations here.”
More Than Just Tricks
What makes Niña Skates special is that they understand that every time a young person steps on a skateboard, they’re learning lessons that reach far beyond the skate park.
When you fall and get back up, you’re building resilience.
When you finally land that trick after dozens of tries, you’re discovering perseverance.
When you cheer for another skater, you’re creating community.
For young people facing difficult circumstances, these are life lessons imparted in an engaging and fun way.
Breaking Down Barriers, One Group at a Time
Niña Skates’ approach is thoughtfully designed for impact:
Small groups matter. With no more than six children per instructor, every young person gets the attention they need to progress at their own pace.
Safe spaces work. At mixed locations, they offer separate groups for girls who might otherwise feel intimidated. A simple change that opens doors for those who need it most.
Meeting people where they are. From reception classes for newcomers to psychiatric facilities, Niña Skates brings skateboarding directly to young people in environments where they already feel comfortable.
Looking Ahead
Through the Beyond Sport X Under Armour retail point of purchase campaign, which has donated nearly $73,000 to community groups across Europe and the UK since June 2023, Niña Skates is planning to do even more. “Thanks to the support from Beyond Sport and UA, we can reach a much larger group of vulnerable young people and offer more one-on-one lessons where needed, for example, for young people with ASD, performance anxiety and so on,” says co-founder, Sanny. “We can also provide better support and training for our volunteers where necessary.”
The funding will enable smaller groups and better support for volunteers with disabilities. But the ultimate goal remains the same as it was in 2015: to give every participant the confidence to walk into any skate park on their own.
Because that’s what this is really about. Not just skateboarding, but young people discovering they can push through fear, get back up after falling and claim spaces where they once felt they didn’t belong.
Under Armour’s payments partner Adyen is matching all donations to the #SportforSocialChange campaign through December 31, 2025! Please visit your nearest UK or Europe Under Armour store to help support nonprofit community organizations that are using sport to inspire and teach valuable life skills to young people. Click here to learn more about the participating countries and donate.
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