31 May 2009 - Sudden whoops, claps and cheers in downtown Kabul in the middle of a sunny afternoon is anything but usual.

No sooner had a group of young children started to enjoy the day’s skateboarding thrill amidst the hustle and bustle of the city – cheered on by their peers, mentors and passers-by – than a security guard asked them to stop it.

The noise of the cheering crowd died down and Wasim and Mahro, each aged 10, who were running-in their four-wheeled planks of wood, had to abort their race against each other.

Though the race had to be stopped half way through Mahro, a girl from Jalalabad was declared the winner.

For the last two years Skateistan, Afghanistan’s first ever skating school, has brought together some 100 kids, aged between five and 16.

The latest winner Mahro, is the youngest child in her family. She explained how her civil servant father and housewife mother have been encouraging her to continue going to Skateistan.

Skateboarding might just be entertaining for teenagers in the rest of the world, but in Afghanistan it has become a way to promote peace and harmony in a country that is slowly limping back to life after three decades of war.

“Skateistan’s mission is to build cross-cultural understanding and develop youth confidence, leadership and life skills,” says Skateistan’s website.

“This has brought together poor and rich, black and white so that they feel equal. The message we want to give is all Afghans, regardless of their backgrounds and ethnicities, should be together,” added Shams Razi, the logistics officer of the school.

“Almost all other popular Afghan sports such as football, volleyball, Buzkashi, kite flying and bodybuilding are seen as male activities and females are almost always excluded,” said Oliver Percovich, 34, the Australian director of Skateistan. “Skateboarding is seen as a suitable sport for females to participate in and we have many very enthusiastic young girls skateboarding with us.”

In a country, where women were barred from even coming out of their homes unescorted, at Skateistan girls – clad in their t-shirts and pants, and some also with veils covering their head – are competing with their male peers; and, in many cases, the girls win.

A number of street children have also joined Skateistan and created skating teams called “Shining Stars” and “Dusty Kids”.
Skateistan has been a boost for Fazila Shirindil, a 10-year-old girl from Kunduz. Her parents, along with her four sisters and a brother, fled violence in Kunduz in 2001 to become internal refugees in Kabul.

Until a few months ago Fazila wasn’t going to school and was a part-time street vendor selling chewing gum. Now, as an instructor at Skateistan, Fazila earns more than she used to earn and has also gone back to school.

“Even my parents are happy about this because I take money home,” said Fazila.

Afghanistan’s National Olympic Committee has donated 5,428 square metres of land for the construction of a skating park at the Ghazni Stadium in Kabul. Once completed, the park will provide the children with indoor sports facilities, besides serving as the venue for computer and other classes.

Zaris Jallal of the Olympic Committee said the land was donated because “Skateistan’s goals and objectives seem to be quite effective” in engaging young people in peaceful activities.

Estimates suggest young people below the age of 25 make up around 68 per cent of Afghanistan’s 28 million people.

“The Afghan National Olympic Committee is focusing on sports to promote peace and stop youths from being involved in narcotics,” said Jallal. “So, social activities and sports have become our priorities.”

By Tilak Pokharel, UNAMA

Website: Skateistan Afghanistan