“Skate, Educate, Integrate”: Program for Afghan Youth

Project completed

Through skateboarding and an arts-based curriculum, the project enables access to quality educational and recreational opportunities for Afghan youth of all backgrounds and particularly girls and impoverished children, increases their confidence, abilities and involvement in their communities as well as contributes to strengthen their social networks. It runs across two purpose-built project sites in Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif. The proposition is complementary to SDC’s education portfolio.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Afghanistan
Education
Basic life skills
01.03.2014 - 30.06.2017
CHF 770'150
Background

Children and youth are strongly affected by the conflict and the difficult socioeconomic conditions in Afghanistan. Their access to education is severely limited. They face a lack of opportunities to participate in society. Children grow up in a society, in which discrimination (particularly gender related) constitutes a mayor challenge. Afghan children and youth have scarce opportunities for leisure, sport and play. Girls and young women are particularly affected by these problems.

Objectives

Afghan youth of all backgrounds are empowered to reach their full potential.

Target groups

Afghan children and youth aged 5-17 in Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif, of all backgrounds, particularly: girls, working children, internally-displaced and youth with physical/cognitive disabilities. In total, over 1’000 students in Mazar-e-Sharif and Kabul.

Medium-term outcomes

Marginalized Afghan children/youth are equipped and enabled with the skills, knowledge, self-esteem, and social support to participate fully in civil society.

Results

Expected results:  

  • Afghan youth of all backgrounds have access to safe spaces to play.
  • Marginalized and out-of-school youth gain new skills and access to education and leadership opportunities.
  • Afghan youth, especially girls and women, have improved social support networks.


Results from previous phases:  

  • More than 1’050 regular students benefited from skate schools in Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif, with high enrolment of students from marginalized groups (i.e. girls, low-income children).
  • More than 180 students registered back to public school in the two targeted cities.
  • More than 125 young people received structured training, volunteer and employment opportunities or took a leadership role as a representative of their classmates on Skateistan students’ council.
  • New curricula (i.e. “The Future”, “Human Rights and Gender”) have been developed and are disseminated to other Skateistan schools in Cambodia and South Africa.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
  • Other international or foreign NGO North
  • Skateistan / Afghanistan Skateboarding Training Organization (ASTO)


Other partners

Embassies of the United States of America and Finland (donors); Afghanistan National Olympics Committee and Ministry of Education.

Coordination with other projects and actors

No immediate coordination with other SDC supported projects.

Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF   770'150 Swiss disbursement to date CHF   754'836
Project phases

Phase 1 01.03.2014 - 30.06.2017   (Completed)