SKATEISTAN is Afghanistan's first dedicated co-educational skateboarding school. The school will initially teach students in Kabul and work with youth in regional centres in Afghanistan. Using skateboarding as a means of attracting male and female students, the school will allow new opportunities for cross-cultural interaction and education. It will initially focus on 60 students from a range of different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Student capacity will be developed in skateboarding, skateboarding instruction, project management, life skills and English. Our aim is to develop a program that empowers youth to take leadership on issues important to them and build networks countering ethnic barriers.
Since April 2007, the project co-founders have been teaching skateboarding to youth in Kabul on an informal basis. They have been working intensively with 6 young Afghan males, aged 20 – 32 years, whom have now mastered the basics and are teaching others 3 nights per week. In the past they have taught youth in Shar-e-Naw, Shash Darak, Macrorayan and Wazir Akber Khan, but they are finding it increasingly difficult to find suitable skateboarding locations. The Skateistan project has now secured various sites in Kabul and other regional centres to build dedicated skate park facilities.
