Tamina stoked to be on a horse for the first time.

For the last month the Skateistan design team has joined the Skateistan team in Kabul to professionally document our activities and teach special classes with staff and students. Skateistan’s designers, Alexandra Bald and Ana Lessing, are members of the Berlin–based art and design collective C-D-A-P and designed the recently-released Skateistan Book.

Over their month-long visit to Kabul, they ran a series of classes introducing art and design skills to Skateistan students. One of their most popular classes was an advanced photography class with staff and youth volunteers which was based around a German fairytale adapted to Afghan culture.

The culmination of this photo class was an action-packed, half-day photo outing with 21 youth and staff from Skateistan. Below, Alex and Ana explain more about the project and what it was like shooting a fantasy photo series within three hectic hours, one recent morning in Kabul.

We were all very happy to welcome back our longtime student Navid (4th from right). He was in our Kabul skatepark last week skating with his friends for the 1st time since September 8, when he was injured in a tragic suicide attack. It's great to see Navid back on his board!

Noman, Erika and Frauke from Skateistan represent!

For the second year in a row, Skateistan youth from Afghanistan took part in the WeFree youth leadership event in Italy. Skateistan student and volunteer Noman Stanekzai attended the event along with two Skateistan staff that volunteered for six months in Kabul.

Noman says, "To begin with, I feel very lucky to be a part of Skateistan family and be able to help and support Skateistan in any possible way. On the 5th and 6th of October, Frauke, Erika and myself were invited to the international WeFree event, held in Italy. We introduced Skateistan by screening the movie ‘Four Wheels and a Board in Kabul. This was an amazing opportunity for us to express our feelings about Skateistan and about my country."

Taking place near Rimini, Italy, WeFree Days are held annually by the San Patrignano community, and are a way for young people all over the world to come together. This gathering works to establish a sense of community, to share ideas, and speak of personal experiences and hardships, as well as show the possibility of positive change, including drug addiction prevention, through the celebration of various aspects of youth culture.

Noman says that "Flying to Italy was my dream, to see the ocean, eat the Italian pizza, and meet the culture of the people, and it was way, way more amazing than what I expected!"

He continues, adding that "This trip was very productive: I met different people from many parts of the world with different thoughts and inspiring activities. This really inspired me to be strong when coming up against the problems in life and taught me many lessons. I had the best experience of my life and when I met Frauke and Erika in Italy after more than a year since last seeing them in Afghanistan, it felt like I was meeting a member of my family which made everything more special."

On Thursday October 11th 2012 the first ever TEDx event was organised in Kabul, Afghanistan. The day long event, hosted by the French Cultural Center, included speakers from a large range of social, cultural and entrepreneurial projects across the country.

During the morning and lunchtime breaks Skateistan was invited to give a skateboarding demonstration. Ten of our students and skateboard instructors came along to showcase their skills.