In a country with limited opportunities for girls and women, a non-profit has set up a Skateboard School. The school combines learning to skateboard with education initiatives. Girls make up forty percent of the enrollment at the school. Afghanistan might seem to be an odd country for skateboarding, but the owners of the international NGO ( Non-governmental organization) say it is a successful way to reach out to girls and less fortunate children.
In Afghanistan, women are not allowed to ride bicycles, but skateboarding is allowed. Girls are flocking to Skateistan, the school in Kabul where classes are free for everyone. Located in the back of the skate school, there are classrooms and facilities where the children can change if they need to. Girls can study everything from education basics to advanced computer skills. The school welcomes all students from age five to eighteen.
Hanifa, a Hanifa, 14 year old Afghan skater says ?I always like to go high on the ramps. When I’m up there I feel free,like I’m flying. I like that feeling a lot.”
Pro skater & Skateistan ambassador Tony Hawk states “Skateistan is the epitome of what skating is all about. I honestly share in the excitement those kids feel!”
Learning to skateboard teaches many more valuable skills besides just being able to ride a skateboard. The students are learning trust, leadership, and building a community. All children are welcome at the school. Skateistan interacts with nearly 400 children on a weekly basis. Lots of opportunities are available for Afghan girls and working children.
Ollie visited Afghanistan in 2007 and began a grassroots program with three skateboards. Realizing how eager the children were to learn, he returned and started a school. The skate school in Kabul was founded by Oliver “Ollie” Percovich and construction was completed in 2009. It is located on 5428 square meters of land which was donated by the Afghan National Olympic Committee. It brings together students from all cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds and unites them on an equal footing while enjoying skateboarding. At the school, friendships are made and life lessons are learned.
Sports have long served as the basis to change societies and cultures. In the United States, baseball played a role in helping change how our society viewed and thought of African-Americans. It makes sense that a sport would help change barriers in Afghanistan. Sports are a universal language that unites people everywhere.
