World Skate candidates Skateistan for IOC Women and Sport Trophy

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Skateboarding

Since 2000, each year, the IOC Women and Sport Awards are given to women, men or organisations who have made remarkable contributions to the development, encouragement and reinforcement of women’s participation in sport. Six trophies are distributed each year, one for each of the five continents and one at world level. The winners’ work to promote gender equality through different projects is also supported with a grant to help them continue and extend their work.

World Skate proposed Skateistan for the 2019 Awards as it will be one more recognition of the great job done in these years and a further incentive for the future of the NOG.
Skateistan is the first international development organization to combine skateboarding and education for youth empowerment. Founded in 2008 on the streets of Kabul, it now reaches over 2,500 children in Afghanistan, Cambodia, and South Africa: 1, 350 of them are girls, representing 50% of students in 2018 for the second year running.

Through skateboarding, girls are given tools to create social networks, build mental and emotional health, learn about their rights, and develop sport skills. These skills are building blocks to enhancing confidence and leadership development and have positive effects girls’ ability to advocate for their rights and become role models within their families and communities.