Sport and SDGs case study: Skateistan

How does your organisation work toward achieving the SDGs?

Skateistan combines sport with life-skills and educational programmes for children aged 5-17. This helps to keep more children in education and is linked with learning lifelong values of friendship, teamwork and inclusion. Our skateboarding and arts-based education programmes help to improve mental wellbeing such as resilience, self-efficacy, self-esteem and trust. By focusing particularly on empowering girls, children from low-income backgrounds and children with disabilities, we create leadership opportunities and promote equality.

Which specific goals do you target?

Quality education: We provide education to children who are out of school or who could be forced to work.  
Good health and wellbeing: We run sporting programmes which encourage healthy lifestyle and promote confidence.
Gender equality: 50% of students are girls. We run girls-only sessions, employ female educators and help communities see benefits of female participation.
Reduced inequalities: We extend our programmes to children with disabilities and encourage children from marginalised communities to participate.

What changes have you made to your work since the SDGs were introduced in January 2016? 

We have reached and maintained our goal of 50% girls attending Skateistan, ensuring they receive equal opportunities to participate in physical activities and quality education. We work with multiple partners worldwide in order to engage over 100 children living with disabilities. We are teaching more out-of-school children in Afghanistan how to read and write, and we have introduced after school homework help alongside a variety of additional sports to benefit children’s health and wellbeing.

How is your organisation measuring progress?

Alongside daily attendance collection, we use a mix of quantitative and qualitative indicators over time, such as surveys, focus groups and interviews that identify life skills and non-formal education changes including; trust, confidence, friendships made, attitudes towards school and education, and useful knowledge learnt in the classroom. Students and families assess the resources and safe space that Skateistan provides, and staff training feedback is key for developing the quality of programmes.