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Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (if you’re a girl) Wins Best Documentary Short

By on January 6, 2020

‘Learning To Skateboard In A Warzone (If You’re A Girl)‘ follows a class of girls at Skateistan, a nonprofit that began as a skate school in Kabul in 2007 and grew into a multinational educational initiative. Skateistan focuses on recruiting girls from impoverished neighborhoods to not only teach them to skateboard, but to help them gain courage and life skills that will transcend skateboarding and the classroom to help them thrive and adapt to the challenges that lie ahead. Over the course of the school year, the girls grow and become empowered through the joy of skateboarding and the warmth and inspiration of the women who teach them.

In Afghanistan, many young girls are not able to participate in sports. Cultural and religious norms, along with other factors such as safety concerns and years of warfare, have resulted in limited athletic and recreational opportunities for women and girls, especially those who come from impoverished neighborhoods. But there is a new generation of Afghan girls who believe they can do anything.

The film follows a class of girls at Skateistan, a nonprofit that began as a skate school in Kabul in 2007 and grew into a multinational educational initiative. Skateistan focuses on recruiting girls from impoverished neighborhoods to not only teach them to skateboard, but to help educate them so they can join – or return to – the public school system. Over the course of the school year, the girls grow and become empowered through the joy of skateboarding and the warmth and inspiration of the women who teach them.

For the girls in our film, the chance to skateboard presents a unique experience – to compete, to play, to learn their strengths, and to gain courage, life skills that will transcend skateboarding and the classroom to help the girls adapt and thrive with the changing opportunities newly available to them.

Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (if you’re a girl) had its world premiere at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, where it won the jury award for Best Documentary Short.

https://www.facebook.com/skateistan

Learning To Skate In A War Zone (If You’re A Girl) Trailer from Grain Media on Vimeo.

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