How do we know the youth are the leaders of tomorrow? Because they’re already leading today. 

Take Samang*. When he first picked up a skateboard in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, he fell. A lot. But instead of quitting, he kept rolling. Two and a half years later, he isn’t just skating—he’s leading.

Samang, 18, lives with his two younger sisters in Phnom Penh. Through Enfants d’Asie, Skateistan Cambodia’s local partner, he found not only a secure home and access to education, but also an introduction to Skateistan. What started as curiosity about skateboarding has become a journey of resilience, leadership, and community.

“I never gave up because I wanted to improve,” Samang recalls.

At first, he taught himself. Then he started teaching his teachers. Soon, he was mentoring younger students. His teacher, Pe Pe, noticed the transformation: “I encourage him to keep going and fighting for a brighter future.”

Now a Youth Leader at Skateistan Cambodia, Samang balances skating with school, supporting educators, and guiding the next generation. And his dream? To bring skateboarding to rural areas, and one day become an educator with Skateistan Cambodia himself.

At Skateistan, we don’t believe youth are waiting to inherit the future. They’re already shaping it. By creating safe, inclusive spaces, we see young people like Samang grow from students into mentors, from skaters into teachers, from dreamers into doers.

Because when children are given the tools, they don’t just find their own path, they show us all the way forward. 

*Name changed in line with our Child Protection Policy

‍