Hello! 

As you may be aware, I am excited to share that this year I will be headed to Palestine to volunteer with the wonderful non-profit SkatePal! During the months of April and May I will be joining other SkatePal volunteers in the town of Asira Al-Shamaliya, located in the Northern part of the West Bank. My work will mostly consist of conducting skateboarding lessons for the youth of the village. 

All funds donated to this page will go directly to furthering SkatePal’s efforts in promoting the young skate scene in the occupied territories of Palestine! This includes funding for the construction and maintenance of skateparks, providing skateboards and safety equipment to Palestinian youth, and the day-to-day running of the charity. 

WHAT IS SKATEPAL?

SkatePal is a Scottish non-profit, which has had a presence in Palestine since 2013. In the last nine years SkatePal’s team of local and international volunteers have worked tirelessly to promote skateboarding in Palestine by building skateparks, hosting skateboarding workshops and providing Palestinian youth with skateboards. 

More information about both SkatePal and skateboarding in Palestine can be found here: 

SkatePal

Palestinian Skateboard Culture - The Excellence Center In Palestine 🇵🇸 (excellencenter.org)

WHY PALESTINE AND WHY SKATEBOARDING?

More than half of the population in the West Bank is below the age of 21, and living in a very difficult and complex situation. 

Skateboarding provides a unique outlet for people. It allows one to redirect their energy, thoughts and/or stress into an activity that promotes numerous positive qualities including self-confidence, perseverance and patience - not to mention the opportunity for self-examination! 

Skateboarding also has the ability to transcend both linguistic and cultural barriers. During my study abroad programs in Almaty, Kazakhstan skateboarding allowed me to fully imbed myself into a thriving local culture. Through skateboarding, I was able to connect with locals and form some of the closest friendships in my life! Despite speaking different languages and growing up in different cultures, skateboarding provides all parties involved with something that can be shared and understood by all - a common culture. 

WHY DO I WANT TO DO THIS?

After studying abroad in Kazakhstan, I realized how rewarding it is for me to be enveloped in a foreign culture. From a distance it is easy to focus on the larger cultural differences - such as the Kazakh taboo of whistling indoors - but it is, in fact, the smaller aspects that truly intrigued me. To see how people of a different culture eat breakfast, adjust to seasonal changes, greet one another, buy groceries, etc. was both interesting and enriching. 

It was through all of the differences that I began to see the similarities. On the surface, friends in Kazakhstan may greet one another using different words/expressions/gestures than they do in the United States, but the underlying idea was the exact same in both countries - “I am happy to see you because you are my friend!” 

Seeing these fundamental similarities between two cultures separated by thousands of miles/kilometers filled me with inexplicable amounts of joy, happiness, interest and a sense of purpose in life - to experience as many of the aforementioned similarities as I can in my lifetime. 

Any opportunity to travel is an opportunity to better understand the world, it’s inhabitants and oneself!