Skatistan

NGO Representatives:
Cameron Lee, Elijah Mitrano, and Karl Zablocki

NGO Overview, Mission, and Purpose: What We Are About and Who We Help
Skateistan was founded as an NGO (non-governmental organization) in 2007 in Kabul, Afghanistan by Australian Oliver Percovich. At first a small skate school in Kabul, it has now expanded into an international non-profit charity which provides opportunities for education and skateboarding in Afghanistan and Cambodia (A new school in Pakistan is going to be finished in 2013).

Our goal is to improve the prospects of children in these countries by providing equal access to educational opportunities, building friendships and trust which transcends national borders, and developing leadership attributes in these students. We seek to use skateboarding as a tool of empowerment, as an escape from the crushing poverty many children in Kabul face daily.

But we do not just skateboard; we offer classes in leadership, civic responsibility, multimedia, and creative arts. We work with youth ages 5-18, and over 50% of the kids we work with are "streetworking" and have few other opportunities to develop themselves. About 40% of our students are girls, and we hope to increase that number as we look to encourage social change regardless of race, socio-economic status, or gender.

NGO "Bottom Line": How Me Make an Impact
We at Skateistan are committed to the development of young children in places like Afghanistan, Cambodia, and Pakistan. 68% of the population in Afghanistan is under 25, and with the ever increasing presence of radicalism in the region it is imperative that we ensure the youth remains open to new ideas. We want to foster the potential of young boys and girls who otherwise would not get a chance to develop themselves because of poor circumstances.By doing this we wish not only to maximize the potential of young children; but to also prevent violence which results from poor social and economic factors, as well as the mistrust which currently exists between our two cultures.

One of our main goals is to eliminate (or at least reduce) the drastic gender inequality problem which exists in Afghanistan, Cambodia, and Pakistan. By incorporating girls in our NGO, we encourage equality and social responsibility from both genders. The breakdown of rigid social barriers is vital to the freedom of a nation, and by reaching the youth first we can gradually ease the conflict between Western and local cultures.

NGO Organization Details and Location: Headquarters and Global Outreach
Berlin: +49 (30) 914 921 01 General inquiries: info@skateistan.org Media inquiries: media@skateistan.org Volunteer/Staff inquiries: hr@skateistan.org Shipping inquiries: info@skateistan.org
 * Headquarters:**

Skateistan Oppelner Straße 29 Berlin, 10997 Germany
 * Mailing Address:**

Canada: canada@skateistan.org Denmark: denmark@skateistan.org Germany: germany@skateistan.org Poland: poland@skateistan.org USA: us@skateistan.org UK: info@skateistan.co.uk
 * International Fundraising:**

NGO Job Openings: Who, Why, Where, When, and for How Much?
We operate on the blood, sweat, and tears of our dedicated volunteers who are supported by private donations and revenue generated from sales of Skateistan brand items.

**Brand Manager (Berlin Based)-** Passionate individuals who are dedicated to creating a creating a successful social brand/clothing line in order to raise funds for our NGO. They help to develop brand items at their earliest stages to ensure the highest quality working alongside international artists and designers. 
 * Project Volunteers (Kabul/Phnom Penh based)**- Highly motivated volunteers who are fluent in English. They will be teaching skating and other classroom activities (arts/multimedia) in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Cambodia in an effort to open these countries up by teaching children. Placements in Kabul are for six months, and applicants should have teaching experience, experience in Islamic/developing countries, and skateboarding skills. English is a must for teaching, and the ability to speak Dari is a valuable asset.


 * Volunteering from your Home Country-** You don't need to leave your country to help children in places like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Cambodia! Volunteers can help fund raise and promote our group so that other can know what we're doing for children all over the world.

Why You Should Join Us...
Becoming involved in the global community is an excellent way to build up practical experience (especially in teaching). With the global tension that exists, people who assist in the development of "developing" countries are going to be key in reducing the amount of global conflict over resources and ideologies.

The main issue facing places such as Afghanistan are the restrictive social climates which can stifle economic growth and the cultural growth of nations. What we do is open up the youth to new ideas and cultures while providing educational opportunities they otherwise would be unable to access. We want to bridge the cultural gap that we currently have and help inspire the youth of Afghanistan, Cambodia, and Pakistan to make a better future for themselves and their respective countries. We offer a brighter future for those without fortune on their side.

Our NGO Website:
http://skateistan.org/

Cite Your Sources
http://skateistan.org/