COMMUNITY SERVING COMMUNITY, YOUTH SERVING YOUTH

Seven Hills has developed a Youth Leadership Program to train and coach young people to become skate teachers and community leaders. The program is the staple of our operations; it started organically from a need to support the local scene with skateboards without fostering a sense of entitlement. The Youth Leadership Program is a way for young skateboarders to earn skateboarding material whilst developing life skills around becoming community leaders. The program helps them learn that they must work hard to earn skateboarding equipment, whilst also developing local ownership and a peer-to-peer education system from which the Jordanian skateboarding scene has blossomed, and most importantly transforming the participant youth from receivers of aid to active members of their communities.

We have 42 Youth Leaders from 6 different nationalities, 22 of which regularly host sessions across all our programming. We have found that the Youth Leadership Program has helped grow skateboarding in Jordan in a sustainable way whilst also providing workplace training after which we have seen our Youth Leaders supported in entering employment in Jordan.

We welcome and train anyone to become a Youth Leader and future skate teacher. Amongst other subjects, the program also consists of training in woodwork, photography, and communications.

“I feel like the volunteering work I do has a fun and positive impact on my life” 

16 years-old Syrian girl who participated in the Youth Leadership Program for more than 12 months