Many Afghan children, especially girls, rarely partake in recreational sports. 34-year old Australian Oliver Percovich hopes to change all that, with some worn and tattered skateboards.

He plans to open this country’s first skateboarding school, Skateistan, this spring.

“Teenagers are trying to dissociate from old mentalities and I’m their servant,” Percovich said. “If they weren’t interested, I would’ve left a long time ago.”

Now, when he pulls his motorcycle into a residential courtyard here, a dozen youngsters pounce before it comes to a stop, yanking six chipped skateboards with fading paint off the back. The children, most participating in a sport for the first time in their war-hardened lives, do not want to waste any time.

Their skateboard park is a decrepit Soviet-style concrete fountain with deep fissures. Luckily, with upcoming worldwide funding, Ollie will build a skateboard park that will really wow these children.

Here’s some wonderful and inspiring video, showcasing the difference a simple skateboard can make.

Source: New York Times