100% of proceeds will be commited to necessary skatepark repairworks and provision of new skateboards, helmets and pads for the people of Gaza
The main skatepark in Gaza City was established at the sea port in 2017 and is badly in need of repair. Large areas are currently unusable, the surface is rough and cracked and not safe to skate.
For the 2.3million Palestinians in Gaza, the third most densely populated place on earth, life under military occupation can be extremely tough to say the least. Yet skateboarding has still begun to flourish on the Strip in recent years, against seemingly insurmountable odds.
The passion that many skaters like Rajab Al-Rifi have is palpable. Rajab describes skateboarding as "giving him a feeling of freedom and happiness, an escape from the pressure of life under seige". Rajab, and the rest of @gaza_skate_team mission is to spread this message further, giving more Gazans the chance to feel the same.
Skateboarding is a means of self-expression and naturally creates strong, supportive communities of like-minded people. It can help build bridges that connect the people of Gaza with the outside world.
The military seige of Gaza began in June 2007 and carries on to this day, making it very difficult for people to access basic services like healthcare, and freedom of movement is severely limited. These factors are hugely detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the population, 47% of which are children.
Activities like skateboarding that provide opportunities for fun and play must be encouraged wherever possible.
In the near future the Gaza skate team hope to build a skatepark dedicated entirely to girls' skating. This is a really exciting prospect for the progression of skateboarding in the Strip!
This project aims to support the development of skateboarding in Gaza for years to come.
Théo Gada, Benjamin Zollinger
and Nick Edwards
