Open Architecture Network

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The program teaches students skills in skateboarding as well as computers, English literacy and life skills. After skateboarding, students will participate in specialized classes that build confidence, leadership and team work, while reviving Afghan culture through traditional games and activities. Experts in skateboarding, Afghan culture, youth development and the arts will be invited to teach classes and provide community demonstrations. Operating 6 days per week, the Skateistan skateboarding school will have multiple sessions per day of up to 30 students. Mobile skateboarding classes have also been developed to offer new opportunities in physical education for schools, orphanages and youth orientated organizations.

Sponsoring Organization
Skateistan is Afghanistan’s first co-educational skateboarding school. Established in May 2007, the program offers free skateboarding classes for all youth in Kabul through a team of dedicated international and Afghan volunteers. With funding assistance from the governments of Germany, Norway and Canada, the program is about to build Kabul’s first indoor skate park, allowing us to reach over 500 students in 2009. While the social successes of the program are well known, the program needs your help. Skateistan targets young girls and boys between 5 - 17 years from all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Our aim is to build cross-cultural communication and understanding between different Afghan ethnicities and international volunteers in a fun, educational and positive environment. By showing the world happy and healthy Afghan youth, we hope to help create a positive voice for Afghan youth locally as well as globally.

Project Location
Kabul, Afghanistan. An indoor skateboarding facility of 800m2, will be constructed in Khai Khana, in Salang Pass Road, Kabul, where 3000 sq. meters of land has been donated to the project. Please see attached image. The design includes outdoor areas where football, cricket and volleyball can be played as well as it being suitable for riding skateboards. The outdoor section also incorporates a playground and there will be ample seating and trees for shade. Materials will be sourced locally where possible, with the remaining materials imported to ensure quality of construction. IOU Ramps have provided material lists and will supervise and build the ramps in the indoor facility. The outdoor section will create a public space for all Kabul residents and will encourage citizens of all ages to interact with each other. With the successful completion of this activity, we hope to replicate facilities will be built in the regional centres of Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kunduz and Bamyan where land has been donated to Skateistan.

Design Highlights
The main objective is to build a skateboarding facility in Kabul as international showpiece. A facility designed by Convic Design, built to international standards by IOU Ramps in Khai Kahana, on the Salang Pass round. This facility will operate year-round and will be supervised by international and Afghan skateboarding volunteer instructors. Instruction in ramp building will be provided by IOU Ramps for building additional skateboarding schools.