Escape Your Life: Unique Jobs You Can Get Abroad

Skateistan (International)

Skateistan is a non-profit organization founded in Kabul, Afghanistan. Its mission is to connect underprivileged youth (ages 5 to 25) to education by using skateboarding as a tool for empowerment. It has projects in Afghanistan, Cambodia, and South Africa that, combined, serve over 1200 youth per week! Its model began as a development project on the streets of Kabul, and grew into a permanent school that pairs skateboarding lessons with arts-based education programming, with the goal of getting children who are out of school caught up and back into public school.

Why skateboarding? In Afghanistan, girls aren’t allowed to ride bikes, which would give them more freedom away from home, but they are allowed to skateboard. Roughly 40% of Skateistan’s program participants are female. Skateistan periodically takes volunteers and hires staff, generally for 6-month contracts or more. If you’ve ever wanted to travel to Asia or South Africa as well as make a positive impact in a new community, this is the job opportunity for you. For staff in Afghanistan, Skateistan covers travel, visa, and living costs.

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