Santiago, Chile – On a bright Sunday morning at Parque Bustamante – a park in the northwest of Santiago de Chile – the familiar clatter of skateboards echoed over the concrete, blending with laughter and the unexpected chorus of “Happy Birthday.” Ten-year-old Mateo had just arrived for his weekly skateboarding class. What he didn’t expect was a surprise birthday celebration, complete with cake, singing, and his fellow skaters cheering him on.
Among those celebrating was Nahomy, who has just arrived from Venezuela. She and Mateo have only known each other for two months, but a shared passion for skateboarding has helped forge a quick and genuine friendship.
“The course has brought me companionship and discipline,” says Nahomy, age 13. “You learn to keep going even if you fall. And it’s easier to make friends when you're doing something fun.”
For Mateo, the Sunday sessions are all about excitement and connection: “Seeing my friends, going to skate, waiting for falls – who knows!”
Mateo and Nahomy are two of 30 Chilean and migrant children and teenagers participating in a skateboarding workshop organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Chile and Skatesencia Academy, a local partner. Designed to promote respect, social cohesion, and peaceful coexistence, the workshops go beyond sports training to help young people build self-esteem and confidence and strengthen social ties.
Teacher and student train in skateboarding at one of the workshops in Santiago de Chile. Photo: IOM 2024/Francisca Salinas
“Having a fun hobby helps you connect with people,” says Nahomy. Her mother, María, agrees: “My daughter has enjoyed it a lot. It is a super cool idea because it includes us all – migrants and locals – in society, in sports, where they find new interests and learn values like friendship.”
The program combines practical and theoretical lessons: from learning the parts of a skateboard to mastering confidence jumps and eventually progressing to tricks like ollies and kickflips. But more than technical skills, what is truly being built is community.
Families cheer and connect as children skate, transforming the park into a vibrant shared space in the heart of Chile’s capital. Photo: IOM 2024/Rocío Sanhueza
While the children practice, their families gather nearby – talking, cheering, and even giving skateboarding a try themselves. Over time, a sense of belonging has emerged among parents as well, transforming the skatepark into a shared space to forge ties.
This initiative expanded last December, reaching the northern border regions of Arica and Parinacota, and Tarapacá, where another 30 children and teens participated in similar workshops.
Skateboarding workshops expanded to northern Chile last December, engaging 30 more youth in Arica, Parinacota, and Tarapacá, strengthening community bonds. Photo: IOM 2024/Francisca Salinas
Brithany, from Venezuela, joined the first workshop in March 2024 and returned for the second in October, this time with her younger brother, Jahaziel. Initially just watching from the sidelines, Jahaziel soon began learning with help from the instructors. Their mother, Érica, has seen the impact firsthand: “They have a beautiful friendship with all the children. And we, the parents, too – it has created bonds among everyone.”
Romina, mother of Amanda, a Chilean-Brazilian participant, echoes the sentiment: “Amanda has made friends and learned values related to resilience, courage, and the need to be strong.” Amanda herself sums it up simply: “I like to share and learn new values and tricks.”
At its core, this skateboarding workshop is about much more than wheels and ramps. It is about motion that brings people together, no matter where they come from.
This story was written by Francisca Salinas, Communications Assistant, IOM Chile.
