GirlSkate Nairobi: We All Have Inner Strength
A unique project, GirlSkate Nairobi, is turning skateboards into tools of confidence, creativity, and community. Led by Jelimo Cheboi and Antoinette 'Tonyii' Apondi, it shows that everyone can have inner strength and self-confidence, but sometimes, it just needs the right place to help ignite it.
Somewhere up on a mall rooftop in Nairobi, Kenya, there's something really cool going on. With skateboarding, workshops, and a strong sense of community, young people and kids are getting the chance to dive into sports, stay active, feel like they're part of something bigger, and learn about the "power to say no."
Thanks to the founders of GirlSkate Nairobi, Jelimo Cheboi and Antoinette 'Tonyii' Apondi, the skaters up on this roof, apart from having fun and learning about skateboarding, are all about being themselves in a safe spot and discovering a fresh perspective on life that taps into their natural inner strength. Since kicking off three years ago, the project has been offering skate lessons, art and music workshops, DJ training, and safe mixed-gender sessions to people of all ages and backgrounds.
Inner Strength
Olympics.com once described the Nairobi skating rooftop community as "a place where girls feel accepted, unafraid to be themselves, and safe from ridicule or danger." Today, people from all sorts of identities, social, creative, and economic backgrounds, and different ages are getting involved, and Antoinette and Jelimo regularly host mixed-gender, community-wide sessions.
"We started GirlSkate Nairobi in 2023 after noticing how few safe, supportive spaces existed for girls and gender-diverse people in Nairobi’s skate scene," Jelimo tells Perspective Living. "What began as informal skate meetups quickly grew into structured sessions, workshops, and a strong, multi-disciplinary community," she adds.
"Strength and happiness come from alignment," explains Antoinette, and adds it's all about: "being able to move, create, and exist authentically without constant self-censorship."
"We started GirlSkate Nairobi in 2023 after noticing how few safe, supportive spaces existed for girls and gender-diverse people in Nairobi’s skate scene. What began as informal skate meetups quickly grew into structured sessions, workshops, and a strong, multi-disciplinary community."
Ecclectic Mix
So, what kinds of things can people expect on this rooftop scene, at The Mall in Nairobi? "There are art and mural workshops, 'deck customisation' and design sessions [Ed: so people can design their own skateboard] ," Antoinette explains. She continues: "Then there are DJ-ing and music-based workshops, creative storytelling, community dialogues, and skill-sharing sessions around confidence, leadership, and collaboration."
"Some join for skateboarding, others for art, music, or community — but most stay because they find a space where they are seen, supported, and encouraged to explore who they are," adds Jelimo.
Across all workshops, participants build resilience, self-trust, communication skills, creativity, and peer support, and underlines Antoinette: "Together, these experiences challenge stereotypes around gender, sport, creativity, and who gets to take up space in the city."
"Some join for skateboarding, others for art, music, or community — but most stay because they find a space where they are seen, supported, and encouraged to explore who they are."
The Power of Skateboarding
Antoinette once shared with Olympics.com that, despite often being perceived as a male sport, skating captivated her because it significantly enhanced her mental and physical strength. How in a supportive environment, skating truly empowers individuals.
"We both come from creative and community-driven backgrounds," she explains, adding: "and were attracted to skateboarding not only as a sport, but as a means of self-expression, freedom, and resilience within urban environments."
The skills gained through skateboarding and being part of this community are found to be directly applicable to daily life, and says Jelimo: "Our skateboard workshops emphasise the fundamentals of skateboarding such as safe falling, body awareness, and dealing with fear."
"We were attracted to skateboarding not only as a sport, but as a means of self-expression, freedom, and resilience within urban environments."
Belonging as the New Normal
As for the future, what's next to achieve? Since the start of the initiative, a lot has happened. "This year alone," explains Antoinette: we have been hosting female-only skate sessions at Shangilia skatepark, and we’ve also trained over 27 female DJs from our community. Plus we also marked our three years anniversary and hosted more events and workshops in Kampala, Uganda."
"We want to deepen our youth programmes, expand access to inclusive skate and creative spaces, and build stronger regional and international collaborations," rounds off Jelimo.
To which Antoinette adds: "Strength comes from practicing self-trust in environments that allow growth and failure. Confidence isn’t something you wait for — it’s built through repetition, movement, creativity, and community. Claiming space often starts small, but it grows quickly when you’re supported."
Adds Jelimo, how basically, they like to dream big: "Long-term, we envision urban cultures where access, safety, and 'belonging' are the norm — especially for those historically excluded from sport, art, and public space."
"Long-term, we envision urban cultures where access, safety, and 'belonging' are the norm."
About GirlSkate Nairobi
GirlSkate Nairobi, Kenya's first female skate club co-founded by Jelimo Cheboi and Antoinette Apondi, amplifies girls' voices in the male-dominated skate scene. Featured on platforms like Olympics.com, it serves as a creative hub integrating art, fashion, music, and sport to support African female skaters. The initiative provides a safe, inclusive space for women, girls, and individuals of all genders (ages 5-65+) to learn skating, promoting empowerment, confidence, and community. It fosters a 'sisterhood' of skaters and creatives through events and music, offering mentorship and training while challenging stereotypes.
