CJF MOROCCO // Job Announcement

I am absolutely over to moon to announce that on 25th September 2023, I will be heading to Morocco to support the incredible Concrete Jungle Foundation with their CJF Morocco project.

The last couple of years of Shanko’s Skate School have been an absolute dream, my work as a skateboard coach and coach mentor has led me to a number of life changing opportunities; this being the most recent one. I could not be more excited to have been offered the opportunity to work with CJF on this project, so I accepted it a flash and I’ll be working away with them for the rest of the year.

Unfortunately, this does mean that I will not be delivering any skateboarding sessions or lessons through Shanko’s Skate School until 2024 at the earliest. I however, do have some big plans in the works for when I return, so keep your eyes peeled on the news page to stay up to date with and updates, and to get the first look at future plans for projects when I’m back in the UK.

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As you may or may not be aware, on the 8th September 2023 a devastating earthquake hit Morocco. The current toll is roughly 3,000 deaths, with over 5,500 injured. With thousands of homes destroyed.

Here is an update from Centre Fiers & Forts, the base for CJF Morocco’s project, posted on 16th September 2023.

“One week since the powerful earthquake shook Morocco, the Al Haouz region, Tamesloht, the Centre Fiers & Forts… It’s time to give you some news, what have we been up to since the shock?

NIGHTS OUTSIDE:
The earthquake, in addition to creating material damage, has left many traces in people’s minds. Fear and the risk of aftershocks forced us to sleep outside until last night. After a check on the condition of the buildings, children and adults bravely overcame the anguish, to sleep in the bedrooms again.

SOLIDARITY WITH OUR NEIGHBOURS:
From the day after the earthquake, cooks and older teenagers at the Center mobilised to help families in the surrounding area who were forced to leave their homes, which had become unsafe. Every day since, the teenagers have been distributing meals, clothing and helping to build shelters for those in need.

Thank you, dear friends from Morocco and elsewhere, for coming forward to help us with food and financial donations.

EXPLAIN TO REASSURE:
After this unexpected event, it was important to help people, young and old alike, understand this phenomenon, scientifically, so that panic didn’t get the better of us.

EXPRESSING YOURSELF AND GETTING OUTSIDE:
The aftermath of the earthquake also means a lot of emotions to digest, so one of the most important activities is to listen to each other. And through drawing, music and theatre, we try to help the children get over this shock, this trauma, let’s put it that way.

AT THE SKATEPARK, LIFE TAKES OVER AGAIN:
Just like our Fiers & Forts, the local children who have been sleeping outside in makeshift shelters until now need to express themselves and be able to play. Every day we welcome them, thanks to CJF Morocco, to discover skateboarding and its values, but also to draw, play kendama and escape a little from harsh reality.

That’s the news for the week, thank you once again for all your messages and gestures of support, thank you, thank you, thank you.”

If you are in a position to help the financially, the organisers of Fiers et Forts are running a fundraiser to help cover the cost of the materials required to help rebuild 50 homes of that people have lost theirs, due to the earthquake. You can read more about it and DONATE HERE.

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Stay tuned for more updates on my website; here are some other useful links for information about:
– Concrete Jungle Foundation
– CJF Morocco
– Fiers et Forts