June 21st marks the annual Go Skateboarding Day (GSD), an international holiday for all things skateboarding. But the day has come to not only support the sport, its retailers and skaters but has shown to have a significant impact on charities around the world.
Skateistan is one example of skaters coming together to influence change. It’s a non-profit organization based in Kabul, Afghanistan that created the first skateboarding school in Afghanistan. Their mission is to engage urban and internally-displaced youth through skateboarding, and for this year’s GSD, they are doing just that.
Last year in Kabul more than 30 boys and girls took part in Skateistan’s first ever Go Skateboarding Day (GSD), and this year participants will skateboard through the streets from Mekroyan fountain, where Skateistan was born, to the Skateistan park where there will be a competition and all-day skate session. A live Skype conference will follow at 11 p.m. between the kids at Skateistan and the Skate to Kabul supporters in Basel, Switzerland. The supporters have collected donations for Skateistan and are taking part in a GSD event where they’ll skateboard along the streets for 5,000 meters (3.11 miles) to represent the 5,000 kilometer (3,107 miles) distance between Basel and Kabul.
Go Skateboarding Day 2010 will not only secure donations for Skateistan but also connect the two cultures of Basel and Kabul through the sport of skateboarding.
Get more information about Go Skateboarding Day, including events, flyers and information packs that help skateboarders create their own events.
Get involved or donate to the Skateistan organization.
[Via: Skateistan]
[Photo Via: Skateistan]
I think this is a great idea for the Go Skateboarding Day 2010 – helping people in Afghanistan to enjoy skateboarding!