Skateistan US

A special Bar Mitzvah for Skateistan

Submitted by andreas on Sat, 04/21/2012 - 00:02

Skateistan recently received a very special letter. It was from Tobin in Massachusetts and had enclosed more than 600 dollars in checks. For Tobin’s Bar Bitzvah in March he had decided that rather than receiving presents for himself, he wanted his friends and family to donate money for Skateistan. In the letter to Skateistan Tobin describes how he loves to skateboard and wants to help create opportunities for Afghan kids to do the same in a safe environment. We are profoundly impressed by Tobin’s generosity and deeply honoured that he chose Skateistan as the beneficiary of his altruism.

Fundraising Spotlight: Kids That Rip

Submitted by rhianon on Tue, 03/27/2012 - 03:29

A big thank you to Joe Steel and Mary Crawford for organizing a fantastic Skateistan fundraiser on March 11, 2012, in Mesa, Arizona! The event took place at the Mesa-based Kids that Rip Skateboarding School, which generously donated the venue and associated fees. Over 200 people attended and nearly $2,000 was raised.

In addition to skateboarding, there were raffles, giveaways, a barbecue and live music. Four bands played — RK and the Steelfries, Scarlet 13, Among the Strange, and Safe to Semi — and professional skateboarder Marty Murawski was on hand to sign autographs and meet fans.

(Click 'Read More' to check out photos)

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Afghan Skater Profile: Hanifa Qayoumi

Submitted by khalid on Sat, 02/18/2012 - 15:53

Our next edition in the Afghan Skater Profile series brings one of our newest members of the Skateistan team into the spotlight. We hope this interview with Hanifa gives you some insight on her thoughts about skateboarding and life in Afghanistan.

Hanifa has been a long time student at Skateistan and was recently taken on as a skateboard instructor and maintenance worker. She is currently a full-time staff member at the skatepark in Kabul and has become a vital member of the Skateistan team.

Hanifa also won first place in the girls skate competition on Go Skate Day 2011 at the Skateistan skatepark in Kabuil. You'll get a look at her thoughts on this and much more!

We hope you enjoy the interview!

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Keeping Afghan Culture Alive

Submitted by khalid on Sat, 02/18/2012 - 15:50

Among the traditional Afghan arts, wood carving has its own place. The students at Skateistan believe that a nation stays alive if their culture is alive. Therefore, in this semester the students worked on wood carving as a way of sustaining some of their Afghan culture. The technique used was to draw a design on plywood and then cut it out with a special saw. The design which has been cut out is then glued onto another piece of plywood and coloured to add more detail.

Their carvings include Afghan famous figures such as Ahmad Shah Durani, the first Emir of Afghanistan, skateboarding, landscapes, and birds.

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Skateistan in Winter

Submitted by khalid on Sat, 02/18/2012 - 15:42

Over the past few months Kabul has seen some of the worst winter weather in decades. Most mornings for the past few weeks have been about -12°C (10°F) in Kabul, and for a developing country without great electricity and heating arrangements, this creates challenges!

Despite the bitterly cold conditions being experienced by the people of Kabul, Skateistan activities continue!

Regular schools in Afghanistan don't operate during the winter months due to the difficulties caused by the freezing conditions. However, students continue to turn up to the Skateistan skatepark on a daily basis and are just as keen to skate as they are at any other time of year!

For example, right now the skatepark echoes with sounds of skateboards as a girls' skate class is underway, and other students continue classes in photography and wood-carving in the classrooms, while staff in the Skateistan office do everything possible to stay warm while they work.

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Afghan Skater Profile: Noorzai Ibrahimi

Submitted by khalid on Sat, 02/18/2012 - 15:31

Introducing Noorzai Ibrihami: 16 year old skateboard instructor, skatepark maintenance crew member, and one of Afghanistan's best skateboarders. Our recent Yak Daqa #5 will introduce you to Noorzai's skills on a skateboard...

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Tragedy in Kabul

Submitted by brandon on Sun, 12/11/2011 - 03:18

While Skateistan strives to tell a positive story about Afghanistan, it's also important for people to understand the trauma children face in order to fully appreciate their inspiring resilience and optimism.

On December 6th Kabul witnessed another tragic suicide attack - this time targeting the religious Ashura celebrations. Four girls who attend Skateistan were seriously injured and another four former female students died in the attacks. While Skateistan operates amidst conflict and crisis, this is the first time our students have been hurt.

No words can describe the sorrow and despair our teachers, staff and students experience these days. But we also know that keeping the skatepark and school open remains a light in the dark for more than 300 other kids and youth.

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Philly Skate Jam Fundraiser this Saturday

Submitted by rhianon on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 18:28

Skateistan volunteer Brandon Gomez, who was just in Kabul for six months working with the project, is holding a Skate Jam fundraiser today (Saturday November 19th) in the Philadelphia area at West Goshen skatepark (Wawa). Proceeds from this event will be going towards building the first outdoor, concrete skatepark in Kabul, Afghanistan!

The Skate Jam fundraiser's not only for skaters, so feel free to come out with your friends and family to hang out. There will be food and drinks, entertainment, a bonfire with s'mores and other goods to be sold and won so please come out and support or donate for this great cause. Brandon's brother and co-organizer, Frankie Gomez says "you are helping with every penny!"

Signups for the competitions will begin around 12:00 and comps will start at 2:00 and end around 4:00. They'll also have raffles for all sorts of items so if you're in the area be sure to stop by. Check out more info on the DIY skatepark in Kabul on Crowdrise.

If you can't make this event be sure to check back to the Skateistan US blog for more fundraising events around the country.

UPDATE: The Philly Skate Jam raised $600 towards building the first outdoor, concrete skatepark in Kabul, Afghanistan!

Here's a photo of some of the winners at the event:

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Skateistan in action!

Submitted by rhianon on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 15:19

It’s been a busy period for the media department Skateistan in Kabul but we hope you’ll agree that it’s been worth it...

First, we look back to June 21^st of this year, when Afghan youth took the streets of Kabul to celebrate Go Skateboarding Day, at the same time as thousands of other skaters around the world.

Next, Skateistan compiled a video of the highlights of Semester 6, which ran from June to August. So much happened during this time that it was impossible to include everything. Never fear though because the result is a high-speed look at our core activities and all sorts of other happy random moments that go into making a typical, action-packed semester at the park in Kabul.

If you like what you see, please take a minute to share these videos across your social media and to leave feedback. Skateistan is a grassroots project, which relies on the support of individuals like you to spread word of our exciting news and developments across the globe. You can also find Skateistan on Facebook and Twitter. If you have some spare pennies, donations are always welcome and appreciated.

Help raise $5,000 for DIY concrete park

Submitted by rhianon on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 14:33

The USA has a long tradition of some of the best DIY (Do-It-Yourself) concrete skateparks in the whole world like Burnside in Portland and FDR in Philadelphia. Now, the Skateistan NGO in Afghanistan wants to add an outdoor skate area for its students in Kabul and needs your help. The plan is to construct a DIY 350 sq meter concrete skatepark directly behind Skateistan's indoor skatepark facility. This will be the first concrete skatepark in Kabul. High fencing around the property will also allow the girls of Skateistan a rare opportunity to skate outside in privacy.