Skateistan opens Afghanistan's first indoor skatepark | Cameron Sinclair

In pages and pages of press about what's going wrong in Afghanistan emerges a story of hope. LastThursday marked the official opening of the Skateistan skate park, Kabuls' largest indoor sportsfacility. Two years in the making, this center is a testament to a group of national and internationalidealistic individuals who believe in the power of sports to create social change.

Founded in 2007 by three Australians, Skateistan is the world's first co-ed skateboarding school. Theschool engages urban and internally-displaced youth through skateboarding, and provides them withnew opportunities in cross-cultural interaction, education, and personal empowerment programs.The students are selected from all of Afghanistan's diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.They develop skills in skateboarding, skateboarding instruction, healthy habits, civic responsibility,information technology, the arts, and languages.

As stories of the fledgling organizationbegan to spread a bold idea emerged --what if we build a safe center for kidsfrom all over Kabul to come together.The Skateistan team worked day andnight to bring together an opencoalition seeking to put an anchor inthe ground -- to build a place theorganization can call home.

The center, now open, was funded by acoalition of funders including thegovernments of Norway, Denmark, Germany and Canada, dozens of skater-related fundraisersaround the world and a grant from Nike Gamechangers and Architecture for Humanity.

At the opening around 100 skaters from Afghanistan, who have been taught by the Skateistanteachers, showed off their new skills. They were joined by professionals from the Netherlands, Syriaand the United States

all images courtesy of Skateistan

----

Skateistan on CNN