Wheels of Hope with Yurii Korotun

10.09.2022 - 2 min read
Content by Thomas Girondel

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At Gleis D indoor Skatehalle, Ukrainian professional skateboarder Yurii Korotun and the young volunteers who joined the free proposed courses are warming up on a mini half pipe. Before practicing skateboarding Yurii explains how to stretch before performing tricky moves. Hanover, Germany - 14/04/2022

I met professional skateboarder Yurii Korotun near the Maïdan Square in Kiyv, Ukraine while doing a reportage in 2018. A skateboarder myself since my childhood, we have exchanged stories and experiences about our common passion and kept in touch via social networks.

Now 25 years old Yurii called me a few days before the Russian invasion of his country. Sensing the threat and having no more income, he decided to flee Ukraine with his wife, travelling with only a minimum luggage. After a short stay in Turkey, they moved to Hanover, Germany at the end of February.

While a German train I.C.E (Intercity Express) passes-by the Gleis D Skatehalle, 12-year-old Abdullah stares at Yurii Korotun performing a trick on an outdoor mini half pipe. Hanover, Germany - 14/04/2022

Almost three months after the beginning of the conflict, 402,651 of the 6 million Ukrainian refugees who have fled Ukraine due to the war have been welcomed in Germany. The city of Hanover is one of the most significant convenient drop-off points: its geographical position marks it a major hub to the north of the country as well as other countries of the European Union.

To deal with the large influx of refugees, the City of Hanover together with the federal state of Lower Saxony, has rented the huge Hall 27 of the trade fair grounds (Messegelände) to host Ukrainian families. The 31,100-square-meter hall is home to 1,152 people waiting for long-term accommodation. Among these refugees, there are countless children and teenagers, lost on the outskirts of the city, waiting for better days.

Yurii helps Karina, 14 from Odessa, to fasten her helmet. Thanks to a partnership with European online Skateshop Blue Tomato who wished to support the positive initiative of giving skateboarding courses to the refugees, Gleis D Skatehalle’staff received from the company numerous free skateboards and protective gears such as helmets, elbow and knee pads for the rookies. Hanover, Germany - 14/04/2022

Yurii, distraught by the war and the monotonous daily life of the refugees in Hanover, wanted to help them. Convinced of the benefits of skateboarding and his popularity thanks to his sponsors, he was determined to support these young people in his own way.

The idea was to allow these kids to rebuild themselves, both physically and mentally, after having lost everything and having spent countless days on the road in exile. Because skateboarding is both playful and difficult, it demands attention and perseverance while allowing everyone to express themselves freely at the same time.

Thanks to the result of a call for donations, but also with the help of the Association for the Promotion of Culture and Sport among Young People and the members of the Gleis D Skatehalle of Hanover, Yurii has been giving free skateboarding lessons to the children of refugees since April 6. Twice a week for five hours a day he offers them a breath of fresh air and a creative outlet.

After a slow start and although the majority has never practiced skateboarding before, the number of young Ukrainians between 9 to 17 eager to discover this non-competitive activity has hit off and continues to grow. Under the supervision of volunteers, the mixed workshops reach a maximum capacity of 25 people per session. As the hours and days go by, the refugees learn beyond language barriers the unique terminology of skateboarding, their balance on the board stabilizes, everyone’s confidence increases and smiles return.

Yurii’s initiative is now popular in the Hall 27 shelter. While waiting to find a better place to live with their families in the upcoming weeks, the kids hurry to attend the workshops – hoping that one day they will ride the skateparks and roll over the streets of their respective Ukrainian hometowns.

”I arrived in Hanover with my family on March 9th. I left my country six days before. I am very happy to be able to pratice skateboarding here. It’s interesting to be able to learn it which changes from being in the camp [...] Here you can let off steam and feel free with a board. I understand now why young and old people do like skateboarding. It’s not like football, you can do it wherever and whenever you want. This is the second time I come here to and I’d like to continue more often"

Erika, 12 - Dnipro

Erika, 12 Dnipro