Skateistan: The Tale of Skateboarding in Afghanistan shares the strange and beautiful intersection of traditional Afghan society and a new generation of Afghan skateboarders and artists. It features the innovative Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) 'Skateistan', which since 2007 has taught skateboarding and creative arts to girls and boys in Kabul, Afghanistan. Skateistan's opening of the country's first skatepark – and focus on working with Afghan girls and streetworking youth – has been covered by major media outlets worldwide, including CNN, BBC, Al-Jazeera, and the New York Times. Skateistan: The Tale of Skateboarding in Afghanistan is the very first book about the subject and gives a rare, in-depth look into the lives of exceptional young Afghans facing incredible challenges in a city that is torn by war, but also full of life. This 320-page color book features stunning, previously unpublished photographs accompanied by essays, interviews and personal stories from Skateistan's founder Oliver Percovich and the young Afghans that have gone from being students to teachers in the skatepark and classrooms. Full of hope, beauty, gritty honesty – and skateboards! – this is a story about Afghanistan that you won’t find anywhere else. Book Sponsored by: The Kindle Projectand the Danish Embassy in Kabul. The book was designed by Skateistan's Art Directors Alexandra Bald and Ana Lessing who are part of the C-D-A-P collective, which will also be organizing the release event.

SKATEISTAN: TO LIVE AND SKATE KABUL from Diesel New Voices on Vimeo.

Skateistan: To Live And Skate Kabul is a beautifully shot film that
follows the lives of a group of young skateboarders in Afghanistan. Operating against the backdrop of war and bleak prospects, the Skateistan charity project is the world’s first co-educational skateboarding school, where a team of international volunteers work with girls and boys between the ages of 5 and 17, an age group largely untouched by other aid programmes.


BY ORLANDO VON EINSIEDEL