The goal is clear and simple: to spread the skateboarding movement throughout the entire island, helping to promote healthy sports-based outlets for disenfranchised youth. To inspire a generation bored by the usual team sports and help them discover their own creativity and determination through the art of skateboarding.

For many years, the rest of the world has enjoyed the cultural commodities and athletic prowess exploding out of Jamaica. We have all found ourselves!enjoying the sounds of the island and were blown away by Usain Bolt’s stellar performance at the Beijing Olympics, but one should never forget that Jamaica is a small island nation full of hidden gems and unexpected stars. Case in point, the emerging skateboard scene bubbling up along the island’s Eastern shores.

*KCSJ operates under the 501 C3 umbrella of Upliftment Jamaica.

More About KCSJ

Bull Bay Bowl - Jamnesia

Boston Bay - The Birthplace of Jamaican Surf

In the United States, skateboarding is a pretty easy affair for most. Kids can grab their board, head out the door and start coasting on the street in seconds.

The reality for kids living in Jamaica is much different. A single skateboard must be shared by many. Boards are ridden until the bitter end and skate shops are non-existent. Besides sharing a skateboard, these kids simply can not afford the shoes, pads, or helmets needed to help them skate safely.

Thanks to three years of generous donations from many key players in the action sports industry, the movement is picking up speed from Kingston, all along the Eastern shores to Boston Bay.

The KCSJ team works year round to collect goods and financing to keep the movement going forward. In order to meet the needs of the 2010 project, the KCSJ team is reaching out to you all for your support. The team welcomes your donations and support for a cause that is as creatively inspired as it is socially vital for Jamaica’s youth.

TRACE Magazine - http://www.trace212.com/

Jamil GS Blog

TheFader.com

More Press Links

• http://venividivincoregime.com/wordpress/?p=1372
• http://gakcity.com/2009/08/10/skateboarding-in-jamaica/
• http://www.tigerdistribution.com/new/2009/08/14/skating-injamaica-jamil-gs-studio/
• http://www.yearoftheblacksmith.com/profiles/blogs/jamaica-originates-2-by-jamil
• http://www.complex.com/blogs/tag/jamil-gs/
• http://english.mashkulture.net/2009/08/10/jamaican-skaters/
• http://www.burdenclothing.com/pages/blog/2009/08/14/via-jamil-gs-jamaican-skaters/
• http://misterjt.tumblr.com/post/158245776/jamil-gs-jamaican-skaters-the-fader
• http://thefattestkids.blogspot.com/2009/08/jamaican-skaters.html
• http://wearehunted.com/like/jamil_gs_jamaican_skaters/2899381/
• http://cmyk4life.tumblr.com/post/159263389/igather-jamaican-skaters-jamil-gs
• http://initignition.blogspot.com/2009/08/jamaican-skaters.html
• http://boatclub.tumblr.com/post/164862667

You can help by providing the following items:

• Decks, protective gear, hard goods-trucks, bearings, grip tape.
  Since there are NO skate shops in Jamaica a complete deck and having an arsenal of goods is worth its weight in gold.
• Kicks and clothing. Most kids skate barefoot. The kids need footwear that will take the abuse and allow them to have a second pair of shoes for school and special occasions.
• Financial aid to build grass roots!skate spots and help sponsor Jamaica’s rising stars. KCSJ also aims to send local skaters abroad to gather ideas and further develop the sport back on home soil.

For more information, please contact the KCSJ member of your choice:
Kelly Rae — krae2084@gmail.com
Mikkel Burrowes — 77klash@gmail.com
Jamil GS — gs@jamilgs.com

Thank you to all of our participating sponsors: