Australian Ollie Percovich says the skateboards he introduced to Kabul’s children are the ‘carrots’ to connect with them and build trust. His ‘Skateistan’ nonprofit club awaits a big new facility.
Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan — A white van pulled up to a concrete fountain on a leafy side street in downtown Kabul, trailed by shrieking Afghan children. “Ollie! Ollie!” they shouted, pounding on the vehicle.
Oliver Percovich, a lanky Australian in a black T-shirt, emerged from the van with a load of banged-up skateboards. The children grabbed the boards and raced off to skate in the cracked bowl of the dried-up fountain.Â
Skateboarding was unknown to Afghans until Percovich, who followed his social scientist girlfriend to Kabul, starting teaching local children to skate in early 2007. Two years later…Â Details