SKATEISTAN

Oliver Percovich, director and founder, shares an update on events in Kabul.

Arrival of 1 ton of skateboards from Germany

A huge thank you to all of you who donated skateboarding equipment that was collected at the Essen fundraiser and all Titus skateboard shops all over Germany over the last 2 months. We have received 71 packages here through the fantastic people at DHL. Although the Afghan post office got hold of it all and we had to pay quite a bit to release it, we now have enough equipment to run at least two skate parks. A massive thank you to all that donated and a special thank you to Titus, Horsefeathers, Irie Daily and the sister of the skateboarder that died who has left us 2 very special set-ups that are being used by our awesome instructors Mirwais and Shams.    

Building of skatepark

We are a little behind in our plans as far as building a skatepark is concerned, however not because of a lack of effort. We simply need a little more money to make it happen. So if you are able to support us with even $5 that helps us. Ways to assist us are listed here. We are now able to receive tax-deductible donations in the US, so if you live in the US or know someone that does, please help kick start the donations from over there. In the last year we have received only enough to run our internet for a month from the US so it would be very exciting to get some more support for Afghan skaters from the US. Australia has started to wake up, but still no help from my own government. I live in hope! Well done to the people of Norway and Germany for being so generous and keeping the dream here alive.

Skating possibilities in winter 

Skateboarding is getting harder for us with the temperatures dropping, however we are still skating the fountain in Macrorayan and at the KUFA orphanage where we have left 5 skateboards for the kids to use in their spare time.

We have also found a doughnut shaped moat under the Massoud roundabout in Macrorayan that is very skateable. Mirwais our star student has dropped in on it so far in the small area that isn’t underwater yet.  The police located on the roundabout as well as phone card sellers and curious bystanders all come to watch the action whenever we skate there. We haven’t been asked to move on yet so I think they like us.    

ISPO sports trade fair in Munich, Germany 

Max Henninger, Titus Dittman and myself will be in Munich between the 1-4 th of February representing Skateistan and to receive the award we won in for best sports initiative in the social awareness category. If you are in Munich come and visit us at the ISPO Skateistand and we would be more than happy to talk to you about life in Kabul and our exciting progress with Skateistan. We have just finalised our ISPO and Bright booklet. Many, many thanks to our super cool designer Alex who has worked extremely hard to produce yet another Skateistan design masterpiece. All people behind Skateistan are volunteers so that every cent you donate goes to running Skateistan on the ground in Kabul. We are all working hard to make skateboarding in Afghanistan part of the solution of building trust and peace in this part of the world.

All the very best from Kabul,

Oliver Percovich

Skateistan Director