Earlier this year, I was approached by the Kimberley Diamond Cup to run the Nebula programme at the Kumba Skate Plaza in December, while also filling in for Mike Chinner while he is away in the States. With everything that was going on with Nebula at the time, it was a great opportunity to increase our impact and build on the relationships I had established when I was here in June earlier this year. In this blog, I will share my experience and hopefully inspire you to grab hold of any opportunity you get to use your skills and talent to make a difference from wherever you are in the world.
The Nebula programme is about inspiring young people to follow their dream and showing them how possible it is by working towards a Dream Project. The Kimberlaaities’ (the name for the group of local skaters) Dream was to have what we called the “Nebula Fun Day”. The Fun Day included a street skate mission, visit to the local swimming pool, a skate jam at the skatepark and ending off the day with the annual Christmas Dinner at the Skate Plaza.
To make this dream a reality, we raised money from running the Kimberlaaities Car Wash and selling bompies (ice juice) and ice cream at the skatepark. The money we made from these small businesses allowed us to cover the costs for the Nebula Fun Day while leaving us with a little extra to continue selling bompies and ice cream.
Realising the Dream Project was lead by The Musketeers – Charles, Siphiwe and Samkelo – with the help of motivated kids like Wadu and Kopano who were more than eager to make some cash.
In between all of the action we played music, danced, hosted Nebula’s Game of Sk8 while also introducing participants to games and skate challenges that encourage teamwork, support and positive communication.
After three weeks, the Kimberlaaities’ Dream Project became a reality for those who were actively involved in running the small businesses. At the Christmas Dinner, they were awarded certificates of achievement with The Musketeers receiving Nebula product and a skateboard.
As my time draws to an end here in Kimberley, I can’t help but think how you can’t put a price on making a difference – however big or small you think – in someone else’s life, especially our younger generation. If you have been reading our previous blog posts, you will know about the challenges we have faced this year, as well as our successes. I can’t say that it doesn’t take much to make a difference in your own unique way, but at the same time, I can. If you have skills and experience in something that you are passionate about, there is value in that. And if you can find a way to share that value with the world, then do it. Most people will not understand what it takes or everything that had to happen in order for you to have seized an opportunity like that. But one thing is for certain if you are able to do so – it inspires others to do the same. That is what Nebula is about, you know this. It’s a Nebula Skate of Mind!
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