Skateistan, a new Skate School in Phnom Penh

Good news from Cambodia: on last Friday, a new Skate School was opened in Phnom Penh. Realised in partnership with Building Trust International, the school was designed by the architects of Atelier Cole. It is a safe and nice space providing skateboarding and education opportunities to children.


For years, we have been following the initiatives of Skateistan, the award-winning non-profit organisation empowering children and youth through skateboarding and education. Their latest facility was inaugurated in Phnom Penh, in Cambodia, where Skateistan has been working since 2011. Built within the new creative hub of Factory Phnom Penh, located in an old garment factory, it is a Skate School created to better meet the needs of the children. 
Of the 240 children that are currently part of its various programmes, many are girls, but there also are children with disabilities. The new school, with a 500-square-meter skatepark, will provide better opportunities to learn and practice skateboarding to a growing number of children in the local community.
Designed by the architects of Atelier Cole and built in collaboration with Building Trust International, the Skate School was funded by the social enterprise The Skateroom, that supports the youth through artworks and skateboarding, selling limited edition author skateboards. Along with the skatepark, the school also comprises a classroom, a library, offices and a green space. 
With its new Skate School in Phnom Penh, the non-profit organisation Skateistan, that has been active for many years in Afghanistan and South Africa, has now reached Cambodia, giving an important contribution to improve the quality of life of the youth of the local community. Indeed, when it is not used by the Skateistan students, the Skate School is open to the public, giving the children the possibility to have fun practising sports.
It is a safe and protected space where children, and girls in particular, can find a way to express themselves and to acquire new abilities and self-confidence by skateboarding.
The Skate School of Phnom Penh was inaugurated on 23 February with a great celebration attended by over 100 children and guests of honour from all over the world, including young skater Sky Brown who, aged just nine, already is a top star of this spectacular sport, and a great example for all girls.

Christiane Bürklein

Skate School Phnom Penh
Skateistan with Building Trust International http://www.buildingtrustinternational.org/
Project: Atelier Cole https://ateliercole.com/
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Year: 2018
Images: Jeremy Meek - jeremymeekphotography.com 
Find out more: https://www.skateistan.org