Skateistan

Oliver Percovich, founder and CEO

Skateistan is a non-governmental organization that young people from different ethnic groups and social classes in Afghanistan brings together. The organization offers skateboarding lessons that are intended to give young people confidence and help them to overcome barriers due to tribal affiliation or social origin. In addition, the organization aims to make young people move back to the school and to support their education through their own training programs. Skateistan was founded in 2007 and has its headquarters in the Afghan capital Kabul.

History

Skateistan was founded by Australians Oliver Percovich, who first visited Afghanistan in February 2007. Skateistan is the only skate school in Afghanistan.

Percovich developed the idea of ​​a skate school when he with three skateboards in luggage arrived in Kabul in 2007 and was addressed while skateboarding again and again of Afghan boys and girls who wanted to go with the skateboard. Percovich were initially informal skate lessons in a dried-up wells in Kabul, but soon took the plan to expand its activities. Young people in Afghanistan, particularly girls, have few opportunities for sports and leisure activities. Percovich had the idea that he could reach the young people about the skate lessons and give them a sense of community, which, with its tribal structures and strong social contrasts not often exist in Afghanistan. In the following years Skateistan took with the help of international donors and partners from the skateboarding industry beginning to take shape. In July 2009, Skateistan officially registered as Afghan non-governmental organization.

On 29 October 2009 Skateistan opened an indoor skate park with a total of 1,750 m². Here, the Afghan student can learn to skate in a safe environment. In also set up in the hall classrooms organizing provides additional educational opportunities, such as computer courses.

Awards

  • 2009: "NGO of the Year Award" at the Peace and Sport Forum in Monaco
  • 2009: Golden " dove of peace ". The life-size golden dove is one of 30 copies, the German artist Richard Hillinger has created to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the UN Human Rights Charter.
  • 2009: 1st place in the category " Architecture for sports with a social outcome" of a competition the organization Architecture for Humanity and Nike Gamechangers initiative
  • 2010: Award of the short film To Live and Skate Kabul as " Best Documentary " and " Best Cinematography " at the first annual LA Skate Film Festival
  • 2011: Nomination of the short film To Live and Skate Kabul in the categories " Best Editing " and " Best Cinematography " at the Sundance Film Festival in Salt Lake City, USA
  • 2011: Nomination of the documentary Four Wheels and a Board in Kabul for the " Social Justice Award" at the Santa Barbara Film Festival in the U.S.
  • 2011: Award of the documentary Four Wheels and a Board in Kabul as " Most Valuable Documentary " at the Festival Cinema for Peace in Berlin, Germany
  • 2011: ISPO "Brand New Social Awareness " Award
  • 2011: Both the documentary Four Wheels and a Board in Kabul as well as the short film To Live and Skate Kabul shown as the main films in the Middle East Film Festival Now in Florence, Italy
  • 2011: Award of the short film To Live and Skate Kabul "Best Cultural movie " on the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival
  • 2011: Peace & Sport's " Image of the Year" Award
  • 2011: Beyond Sport Awards: Nominations in the categories of "Sport for Conflict Resolution " and " Sport for Education"
  • 2012: Beyond Sport Awards: "Innovation through Sport" Jury Prize and nominated for the " Sport for Social Inclusion Award"
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