Skateistan is an international award-winning NGO based in Berlin, Germany. The organization was created in 2009 when its founder, Oliver Percovich, traveled to Afghanistan with three skateboards. Noticing an obvious lack of opportunities within a disfavored Afghan youth, Percovich began using skateboarding as a means to engage them and build a spirit of community. Skateistan built its first skate school a few months later, using skateboarding and education as a catalyst to drive positive social change. These two elements became the core of Skateistan’s mission to empower children living in underprivileged circumstances.

Further to its cause, the organization developed and implemented 4 educational programs designed to build skills and confidence within children. Conceived as a cycle, the older students eventually become role models to the younger ones, ensuring long term positive change within the community and a brighter future for themselves.

Skateistan currently runs skate schools in Afghanistan, Cambodia, South Africa, and benefits the lives of over 2500 children – 51% of these children are girls.

Through our first collaboration with Paul McCarthy, we donated $200,000 to entirely finance the construction of Skateistan’s skate school in Johannesburg, South Africa.