Skateistan co-founder SHARNA NOLAN also spoke briefly with EVELYN HENDRICKSEN about creating a skate school in Afghanistan.

EH: How did the idea to start a skateboarding school in Afghanistan come about?

SN: Oliver Percovich and I started skateboarding for recreation after work and on our weekends at local schools back in 2007. After being inundated with children keen to learn how to skateboard, we soon realised that skating was an excellent hook to get kids to communicate and build trust in new ways – both between themselves transcending traditional ethnic and class barriers, and across cultures, between foreigners and Afghans.

SN: Initially, the boys are surprised when they see the girls skating and soon learn a new type of respect when they realise how difficult it is. Many of them probably never realised that girls have sporting talent and we hope that this carries them forward as adults.

We don’t introduce any of the street culture associated with skateboarding and encourage the kids to make the sport as Afghan as possible – they wear traditional clothes, stop and pray mid-lesson if they choose, and make up their own names for tricks in Dari. In some cases, the kids put Afghan flags on the bottom of the boards with a ‘we build ramps not bombs’ slogan.

Anthony Lister has donated a work (pictured) which is on silent auction, and will be displayed at the IUTSO opening night. Make your bids by contacting or Jim Gleeson at www.skateistan.org. Read the extended interview at www.ravemagaizne.com.au

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