Skateistan, a non-profit organisation that combines skateboarding and education as a tool for empowerment, ran a Universe Awareness curriculum in Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif in Afghanistan last year. Skateistan works with children from 5-18 years old, and focusses on streetworking children, especially girls.
The project started with four weeks introduction about planet Earth. From August till December in Kabul, Skateistan teachers continued the curriculum with the Moon and the Sun with 250 students. During the same time period, 550 students participated in this curriculum in Mazar-e-Sharif. Of these students, 50 percent were girls. At the end of the semester, the students presented their work during a community gathering including teachers and the student’s families.
“For the families it was great to see their children present a difficult lesson. Especially in Afghanistan where we do not have any special program in this field for children or even for adults,” says Shabana Saidali, education coordinator of Skateistan.
The curriculum used by Skateistan, included materials and activities from Universe in a Box.
“We have received a lot of positive feedback from the students. This was decidedly one of the most successful curriculums we have done in Skateistan in Mazar and Kabul,” concludes Saidali.
Universe Awareness is delighted to collaborate with Skateistan. “Skateistan does great work connecting vulnerable youth to education using skateboarding. We are really happy with this collaboration and look forward to continue working with Skateistan,” says Tibisay Sankatsing Nava, Universe Awareness project manager.
Skateistan began as a grassroots 'Sport for Development' project on the streets of Kabul in 2007, and is now an award-winning, international NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) with projects in Afghanistan, Cambodia and South Africa. Skateistan is the first international development initiative to combine skateboarding with educational outcomes.
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