As part of International Women’s Day 2026 Skate Festival women-led skate programs, groups and initiatives, Foenix Cruisers, Respect is Rad, 2GirlsSk8 & Tiljune, along with Big hART and Totem Skateboarding, are coming together for the second year to use IWD as a space of community building and fundraising for projects and organisations supporting women.

The power to change our communities and create a world that we want to see is within our grasp when we work and play. We are already doing the good things together with our skateboarding meetup and growing and staying connected with the people in our individual circles. In fundraising and putting money towards these worthy projects and orgs we are growing our impact outwards, building new relationships and investing in women’s wellbeing worldwide.

About our charities…

Skateistan

Skateistan (https://skateistan.org) an award-winning women-led organization that gives young people access to locally-led skateboarding and education programs in the most difficult contexts worldwide – with a focus on girls. Started on the streets of Kabul, Afghanistan in 2008 (where we still operate today!) Skateistan now reaches over 10,000 individuals in 50+ locations across five continents. Over 56% of participants are girls. We do not develop skateboarding competitive skills, we use skateboarding as a tool to tackle some of the most emerging issues children face today. From resilience to confidence-building, access to education, mental and physical wellbeing, and fighting gender and social injustice.

Skate of Mind (a Big hART project)

Skate of Mind is a grassroots, national touring collective of skaters, filmmakers, photographers, and artists. We run community engagement events, workshops, music, art, digital art, projection, and soundscape design in regional communities.

In 2026, Partnering with renowned skate culture brands Totem and Build-Up, the Skate of Mind team will connect with regional young people through skateboarding, art and music. Promoting skateparks as safe places for connection and expression for the whole community.

Women’s and Girls Emergency Centre

Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre (WAGEC) is a feminist, grassroots organisation that supports women and families in crisis and advocates for social change in the community. We are based in Redfern, Sydney and work on the lands of the Gadigal and Wangal people of the Eora Nation.

Every night, they support 200 women and children impacted by homelessness, domestic violence and systemic disadvantage. They do this by providing material aid, case management, biopsychosocial support, accommodation, and crisis responses. Equally we seek to address the underlying causes of gender-based violence through primary prevention activities with communities and private and public entities that want to be a part of the global movement to end gender-based violence in a generation.

We encourage you and your circles of friends colleagues and family members to get on board this IWD. Come down and join our event in Sydney Park, or at the very least contribute and share to this very worthy fundraiser.

Good people doing good things deserve your support.

and… THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts in advance.