An Unlikely Diversion for Afghan Youth | Skateboarding in Afghanistan

Flikr photo by Todd Ehlers used under a Creative Commons license. Every so often a story emerges from conflict that raises inspiration and hope for peace when all other assessments are focused on war.  Recently, the New York Times published one such story – an article on a skateboarding program for children in Kabul, organized by an Australian national, Oliver Percovich.  The skateboarding school began when children in Kabul demanded to be taught how to skate.  The simple beginnings of the skateboarding school have lead to the foundation of Skateistan, the first Afghan skate school in Kabul, which aims to provide an outlet for children in an ethnically and socially diverse setting.  The story of Oliver Percovich’s skate school is full of optimism, but also confronts a clash of culture and the dividing line between what is acceptable for boys and what is not acceptable for girls. As explained best by the young girls who have developed a passion for skateboarding, the opportunity to skate, even if only for a time, is a wonderful escape from the conflict of everyday life in Afghanistan.