An Olympian skater, in collaboration with the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, is hosting skating lessons and coding and robotics classes during the June holidays at the Kimberley Skate Park.

This initiative is part of a larger plan to advance sports and technology, two industries with enormous potential for personal and economic development.

The department said they decided to launch this initiative to foster youth engagement in productive and innovative activities during the school holidays. By offering a combination of physical and intellectual pursuits, such as skateboarding and coding, the department aims to provide a balanced and enriching experience for children and teenagers.

The Kimberley Diamond Cup Skateboarding School Holidays Programme aims to empower young individuals by providing them with opportunities to learn new skills, stay active, and explore potential career paths.

“The programme seeks to encourage physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle through skateboarding. To inspire young girls, Olympian Boipelo Awuah, a role model in the sport, is offering lessons.

“Introduce children to the fundamentals of coding. It will spark an interest in technology and innovation and foster a sense of community and teamwork among participants.”

All sessions are free and accessible to all who would like to join in, the department would like to ensure that every child has access to these activities by eliminating financial obstacles through offering the sessions at no cost.

If this proves to be a success among the youth in Kimberley, the department aims to have it as a recurring event during every school holiday, to provide continuous opportunities for youth engagement and development.

The department is also excited to share the news from World Skate that Boipelo Awuah has qualified to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

“Her achievements serve as a powerful example for all the children involved in this programme, showing that with passion and perseverance, anything is possible,” the department said.

Lessons will be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays between 15:00 and 16:00.

OFM News/Casey-Lee Anthony cg