Skateistan

Overview^[5]

Skateistan’s programs are for children 5 to 17 years of age with a big focus on inclusion for girls, children with disabilities, and children from low-income backgrounds. The four core programs work to keep children & youth involved in the Skateistan community for the long term. As participants get older, they can become role models for the younger children and the wider community.

Their mission is to empower youth through skateboarding and education.

What they do: Programs

• Outreach

Outreach sessions take place both at the Skate Schools and in the local communities. Educators and Youth Leadership participants head out with skateboards and sports equipment to engage with local children, providing an hour of recreational activity. It is often the first time they will try skateboarding, or other sports and their first contact with Skateistan. Skateistan also develops partnerships with child protection agencies in order to connect youth and their families with important social services. Through Outreach sessions, many students go on to register for the Skate and Create or Back-to-School program. In fact, many current Youth Leaders and staff members started at Outreach!

• Skate and Create

This 2-hour program consists of weekly skateboarding classes and an educational arts-based curriculum. In the classroom, Skateistan Educators use creative arts to teach a variety of topics, including human rights, cultural studies, nutrition and the environment. Lessons give youth tools to express themselves, think critically and develop confidence. In the skatepark, students find a valuable platform for self-expression and personal development. Accessible to all levels of literacy and education, Skate and Create provides a safe space for youth to develop friendships that overcome deep social barriers.

• Back to School

Back-to-School is a program to support youth in their pursuit of formal education. In Afghanistan, this is a fast-tracked learning program for children who are out of school. Students come to the Skate School five days a week to attend classes covering the national public curriculum. Upon completing the program, Skateistan enrolls students into public school, usually in the 3rd or 4th grade. In South Africa and Cambodia, the program takes place outside of school hours, where students can “drop in” and receive homework help and guidance with career and further education planning.

• Youth Leadership

Motivated youth at Skateistan can apply to join the Youth Leadership training program, assisting the Educators in classes, mentoring younger students, building their skill sets and planning local events. The This program helps youth to develop a sense of ownership at the Skate Schools and creates role models for the other students and wider community. The program aims to create leaders for Skateistan and for a better world!

Skateistan runs programs at their Skate Schools, Outreach locations and with partner organizations in Afghanistan, Cambodia, and South Africa. Skateistan Educators run programs 5 days a week, reaching more than 1600 youth.

Non-Profit Status^[6]

Skateistan has charitable status in:

• Germany
• UK
• USA (501c3)

There are Skateistan NGOs registered in:

• Afghanistan (Afghanistan Skateboarding Training Organization - Skateistan)
• Cambodia (Skateistan Cambodia)
• South Africa (Skateistan South Africa)

Media coverage^[7]

Skateistan has been featured in thousands of media pieces around the world. It has appeared in most major media outlets including The New York Times, Foreign Policy, The Economist, Al Jazeera, and The Guardian.

Locations^[8]

• Skateistan Kabul (Afghanistan, 2007–present)
• Skateistan Cambodia ^[9] (Phnom Penh, 2011–present, Sihanoukville, 2015–present)
• Skateistan Mazar-e-Sharif (Afghanistan, 2013–present)
• Skateistan South Africa ^[10] (Johannesburg, 2014–present)

Documentaries

Two documentaries about Skateistan have been released. In late 2010 a 9-minute short documentary entitled "Skateistan: To Live and Skate Kabul" ^[11] was released by director Orlando von Einsiedel on the Internet. In January 2011 a full-length documentary entitled "Skateistan: Four Wheels and a Board in Kabul" premiered at the Santa Barbara film festival in the United States.^[12] The full-length was directed by Kai Sehr. Most recently, a short documentary, 'The Skateboard and The City' was released covering their Skate School opening in Johannesburg, directed by Coral Brown.

Publications

• 2012- The Tale of Skateboarding in Afghanistan, Published by Skateistan, ISBN 978-3-00-037631-3

Awards^[13]

2016:

• NGO Advisor - Top 500 NGO's Worldside - #67

2015:

• "Eric Stricker Memorial" Award from Transworld Skateboarding Magazine

2014:

• "Champion of Learning through Play" Award from ASHOKA and LEGO Foundation
• "Frankin Paine's Skatepark Fund" Award for social justice through skateboarding

2013:

• #85 in The Global Journal's "Top 100 NGOs" for 2013^[14]
• Winner of the "UNICEF Sport for Education" Award at Beyond Sport Forum

2012:

• Winner of Beyond Sport "Innovation through Sport" Award
• Shortlisted for the Beyond Sport "Social Inclusion" Award
• Winner of ISPO Marketing and Social Awareness Award

2011:

• Winner of Peace and Sport "Image of the Year" Award
• Shortlisted for the Beyond Sport "Conflict Resolution" and "Sport for Education" Awards
• Sundance Film Festival screens "Skateistan: To Live and Skate Kabul"
• "Most Valuable Documentary" at Cinema for Peace Festival in Berlin for feature-length Skateistan documentary "Four Wheels and a Board in Kabul
• Winner of ISPO Brandnew Social Awareness Award

2010:

• "Best Documentary" at L.A. Skate Film Festival for Skateistan short film
• Sappi Design Award "Ideas that Matter"

2009:

• Winner of Peace and Sport Award "NGO of the Year"
• Recipient of Gamechangers/Architecture for Humanity "Architecture for Sport with a Social Outcome" Award
• Golden "Dove of Peace" (UN initiative)