Original subtitles

We are a war‐torn country.

Our country has been at war for many decades.

In Afghanistan, things are not good.

Everyone is always in danger on the street.

The society we live in

it's not safe

especially for girls.

The girls are here.

Hello!

Hello!

What is courage?

Courage is when someone goes to school and studies

and when we read the Quran and other books.

Excellent!

Let's clap for her!

Why is courage important?

You tell us.

We need courage to learn to read.

Excellent!

And to speak in public.

Good job!

‐Got it? ‐Yes.

What happens to our rights when we don't have courage?

They take them!

They take away our rights, and never give them back.

Does anyone have trouble understanding this?

No.

Raise your hand if you understand.

‐Did you understand? ‐Yes, I understood.

You didn't understand?

See? She isn't raising her hand

because she doesn't have courage.

Even if she did understand the lesson,

she's not brave about raising her hand.

Now, please stand up.

Narges, dear

how can we obtain our rights?

Say, "Reading the Quran."

By going to school.

Well done!

By going to school and learning, we earn our rights.

And we also gain courage. Got it, dear?

We teach children from poor places and streets

who did not start school before.

It's safe here for girls to learn.

And we teach them skateboarding.

I work for my students

to make their lives better

because at one time, my life was like theirs.

Now, pack your books carefully.

Hey, those are my sneakers.

Give them back.

Give them to me.

Quiet.

Girls, quiet!

Okay. Girls, are you well?

‐Yes! ‐How are you, teacher?

You got here safely?

Yes!

What's the first thing you learnt in skateboarding?

First, the five foot positions.

Then pick it up.

Okay, put your skateboard down.

Put your foot on the skateboard now.

No, other foot.

Put your foot on the center.

‐One. ‐One!

Two.

Two.

Put your feet down gently. Don't move so much.

‐Three. ‐Three!

Four.

Five.

Very good.

Now, give me your hands.

Before Skateistan, I didn't do anything.

I sat at home with my brother.

I cleaned the house and washed dishes.

We did the gardening.

Took my brother out to play.

My brother and I sold chewing gum

on the streets when I was seven.

And when I turned eight I came to Skateistan.

Okay, listen!

Teacher! There's no chairs left.

Teacher, listen. Teacher!

You are very loud girls!

Class, let's review last week's lesson.

Everyone, read it out loud from the board.

Teacher, none of us can read or write.

Don't worry. You'll learn.

Take out your Life Skills book.

Okay.

The book asks, "What do you think about

before you do something?"

Here's an example.

The boy broke his neighbor's window.

Right?

Who here knows what a slingshot is?

You've all used a slingshot?

So you know. I had one when I was a child, too.

Slingshots are made of a stick

with a strap tied in between.

You put a rock in and shoot at things.

Slingshots are not for smashing windows.

That's not a good deed. That's wrong.

My name is Treena.

I teach Life Skills and Math at Skateistan.

I love sports.

And I love to work with children.

It's my decision that I don't want

to show my face in the film.

How should I say this?

I work with children. I'm their teacher.

I don't need to be on camera.

The students, some of them have problems at home,

like they don't have a father

or maybe their mother or father is disabled.

And they are poor.

Sometimes they are from, like...

households that are very conservative,

close minded and strict.

They don't encourage their children.

How can I say this?

For example, there are families who say

that children should never be heard.

If they grow up in a very strict family,

they struggle and find it hard to make friends.

They fight.

We are eight sisters, one brother.

With my mother and father, there are eleven of us.

Are you older or younger among your sisters?

Three of them are older than me.

Do they come to Skateistan?

No, they aren't allowed.

How come they aren't allowed but you are?

Because where I live it's tradition that

when a girl grows up, she doesn't go outside.

If a girl goes out, everyone says:

"Oh, my God, that girl went out."

Girls older than me do not go outside.

How old are your sisters?

One is eighteen, one is sixteen and one is thirteen.

I'm twelve.

The thirteen‐year‐old doesn't go outside anymore?

No.

I don't want to grow up so I can skate forever.

Before Skateistan, I didn't skate.

What is your best skating skill?

I'm good at pushing off.

How do you do that?

We put our left foot on the board

and with the other foot we push off.

Then we put that foot up too.

And then we ride.

When I first stood on a skateboard,

all I could think was,

how can I get back off this thing?

What were you doing before going to Skateistan?

I was selling tea in Zamager Park.

There I met a teacher named Zahra,

and she took us to Skateistan.

How old were you?

Twelve. I was twelve

and she was eight.

My mother didn't let me at first.

She told me I had to work.

I pretended I was leaving for work in the bazaar.

She thought that I was selling tea.

I left early, worked for a few hours

earned some money, and left.

When I joined Skateistan,

they put me in the first grade.

Write... baba (Daddy).

‐Baba? ‐Baba.

Ba‐ba.

Do I write a b?

What do you think?

Can you do it?

You can't? It's okay.

I'll give you a math question instead.

Please write two plus two.

Two.

Plus two.

You have two rupees and your brother gives you two rupees.

How many rupees do you have then?

‐Is it four? ‐Yes! Four.

Line up.

Line up, in an organized way.

Organized!

We will all do a trick here.

Look. Everybody will do this trick.

Got it?

Ground your foot.

The other foot. Now.

Turn now.

Next.

Turn around now.

You go like this, turn with your shoulder and feet.

Alright, you go.

I remember when I started skating,

it took me a month to learn

to stand on the board and push off.

When new students come to Skateistan,

they learn to push off on the first day.

It helps them to get rid of the fear.

Lie down there.

Move up closer.

I'm a good skater and I want to take part

in international competitions.

It's difficult to skate on the streets

because I'm a girl and this is Afghanistan.

When boys skate on the street,

it's a source of pride for them.

Everyone encourages them.

For girls, they say it's bad for them.

There are strict families that think this way.

They say skating is not for girls.

They say all kinds of things.

Some people here are not open‐minded.

I'll never have a chance to skate on the streets.

A few days ago my mom told me not to come here

because there might be explosions.

She said, "Don't go." But I said, "I'm going."

I was absent from school for a few days.

Can you hear me?

When you pick up the children,

tell them to be standing by the road.

Yes. Bye.

Part of my job as Student Support Officer

is recruiting new students.

I mostly focus on neighborhoods where the poor

and underprivileged live.

Without a school bus, this would be very difficult.

Boys could come to school, but girls, no.

It is very hard for girls.

There are many dangers, street harassment

and even kidnapping.

It's a problem for their family.

They think, "If I send my daughter to school,

something might happen to her on the way."

They're scared.

Some families have enemies.

And if you have enemies,

they target the girls over the boys.

In Afghanistan, kidnapping a girl dishonors the family.

Wash it.

Put it there. That's fine.

She's always asking me to let her sew

but I don't want her ruining other people's clothes.

Then I'd have to pay for them.

So I don't let her sew.

‐No! ‐Don't hit me!

Sit down! Don't do that!

‐ Stop it! ‐Take him out!

Get up and take him out of here!

Take him, get him out.

Did you go to school?

No, we didn't go to school.

There was war and we became refugees.

I was beautiful when young so they married us off.

It was too late for me.

They should learn.

We're illiterate, and don't know anything.

They should be better.

I want to keep everything organized.

Let me take care of him, because he's going wild.

Go! Go! Get out of here!

Many families are eager to have their daughters go to school.

But I have seen cases where families were very hostile.

But I approached them like a man without fear.

Some families were against girls skating

because they might get injured.

And our culture doesn't tolerate families

letting their daughters skate.

I told them it's not good for women to stay at home.

Education is mandatory.

God himself said that seeking knowledge

is a must for all believers.

That's how I managed to convince them.

Because I myself am a brave woman,

I'm not afraid of anybody except God.

When the explosion happened, I was at school teaching.

I thought somebody had thrown a rock at the window.

The glass shattered here.

Nobody got hurt, but it was terrifying.

Everyone got scared.

We tried to calm the children down.

They were very scared.

We told them, "Everything will be okay. It's far away.

It's probably an earthquake."

But they knew from the loud sound

that it was an explosion.

They were laughing and saying,

"Do you think we're stupid?"

They live in this society.

They're aware of all the problems.

They hear it on radio and TV.

They see it themselves.

They know.

Hurry up!

Drink it and go!

Enough.

Enough.

Go sit down there.

Fatima!

Sit there.

‐Give me a piece of bread. ‐Mother?

Come in here.

Oji, come here.

Come here so you don't choke.

Come here, dear, and sit with me. Sit nicely.

Don't give him that.

I want our guests to see he's a real Afghan.

‐He'll be sick later. ‐A real Afghan!

You're gonna make him sick to show he's Afghan?

I have a better idea.

Come over here so you can feed me and I can feed you.

Those days are over.

I got married when I was fourteen.

Now I'm thirty‐five.

Thirty‐five years old.

Did you go to school?

No. Things were very different then.

Schools in Afghanistan were closed because of the war.

We didn't get a chance,

but these two must finish school and university.

Then they can think about marriage.

Not now. It's too early.

I won't know what to do when they get married.

I don't want it to happen.

They're the main breadwinners for the family.

Their father's very old.

He's no longer able to work.

These two are like my sons.

We will do Tik‐Tak all around.

Tik‐Tak all around these. Got it?

Do you know Tik‐Tak?

Yes.

Other foot.

Next.

Slow down.

"Jameel"

Jameel picked an orange.

Come.

Read.

Jameel...orange.

Jameel picked an orange. In our country...

Wait, say the letter. Amira.

What's our letter for today?

‐"Jeem!" ‐Good.

Jameel picked an orange.

In our country, there are trees of orange.

Trees of orange, or orange trees?

‐Orange trees. ‐Good job.

Teacher, pick me! Me! Me!

Do Tik‐Tak, free skate, pushing off.

You always bump into me!

The students like to come in front of the class.

That's why, even if they don't know the answer,

they raise their hands.

I've always told them, it's okay.

Even if you don't know everything, raise your hands.

Coming to the board gives you courage.

If you only know half of it,

you'll learn the other half at the board.

That's why they're not afraid.

Baba. (Daddy)

Good job!

When I am at the skate park,

I don't feel like one of the lazy students anymore.

I feel like I've become clever.

I get so happy when I skate a ramp

and do it well and other people see it.

It makes me very happy.

To skate the ramps, it is important not to be scared.

We can't think that we'll fall and hurt ourselves.

Are you scared of falling?

Yes.

Okay! When we take the ramp,

we put our foot sideways

and the other foot at the back.

And we'll put our weight to the front.

And then we go. Like this.

You go first.

Are you okay?

Go and get her skateboard. You can sit on my board.

I will hold your hands.

Don't cry.

Come stand in line. Don't cry anymore.

Don't cry.

Give me your hands even if you think you know how.

Take out your homework, please.

Teacher, I took it out.

What did you do to your book?

You have to be neater.

Teacher, she's teasing me.

Be quiet!

There are always blasts, at least once a week.

They happen all the time now.

We get scared.

If Skateistan didn't exist, I'd have to sell tea

on the street to support my family.

And now it would be really bad to work in the streets.

If the Taliban come back to power,

we'll be forced to wear burqas again,

forced to stay at home.

Schools will be closed,

children's lives will be ruined.

They killed some women

who failed to observe their dress code.

We had to cover everything.

They would come after you if they found a TV, phone

or a movie in your house

or if you or your sons missed prayers in the mosque.

They'd come at night and knock on your door

and ask why your boy had missed evening prayer.

They'd punish the parents too.

It was a terrible time for the people of Afghanistan.

We were living in Wazir‐Akbar‐Khan.

I was holding my three‐year‐ old daughter in my arms.

I didn't have my headscarf on

and I opened the door to get yogurt.

Suddenly, a Taliban appeared and asked me

why my head wasn't covered.

I told him, "I have one husband and you're not him.

You can't tell me what to do."

He hit me with a whip but I slapped him back.

I told him that I wasn't afraid of him and his kind.

But then after that, everyone had to wear burqas.

I've seen horrible things.

May the winds of Kabul never touch their faces again.

Pair up.

Come here, please, and stand behind him.

Go.

Come, girls.

Don't act fragile!

Whoever thinks she's fragile shouldn't come to Skateistan!

This is the place for tough people.

She fell!

Girls, get out of the way!

Look at her!

Someone cast an evil eye on me!

Of course there's fear. This is Afghanistan

and there's always a suicide attack somewhere.

We are scared but we leave the house

because we have to leave the house.

We leave it to God.

Okay, what subject are we learning now?

What is the subject matter?

Sadness. Teacher, sadness.

Do you know emotions?

The feeling happiness and sadness.

Show me how a person who is sad looks. Come to the front.

Someone who's sad. Think about it.

You're always laughing and happy, right?

Today you are sad.

How do you show this?

You're laughing.

Quiet!

One more time, seriously.

Good job. You can go now.

You were very good.

When someone in your family or your class is sad

and you want to cheer them up, what do you do?

How do you do it?

Teacher, I'll tell them, "Don't be sad."

They'll say, "No, go away."

But I won't go.

Now we will practice this.

You swallowed a five rupee coin and now you are sad.

Yes, I am sad now.

This actually happened to her in real life.

Show us how you become sad. And she wants to cheer you up.

The moment you swallowed it, show me how you felt.

I was sad.

How did you feel? Show me that.

My eyes were popping out.

Show it to us. Don't talk, just show.

Why are you upset?

Because I swallowed my fiver and now I'm upset.

Don't be sad. Don't worry.

It will come out eventually.

Don't laugh.

The poor child actually swallowed money.

Our students ‐ we trust in their ability to learn

and their will to learn.

If we work with them, and their families support them

and they keep coming to school,

they will build a better future.

I want to be a pilot

if I'm allowed.

Eye doctor,

because then I could fix eyes.

A teacher.

I want to be like Teacher Shogofa, Teacher Hanifa

and Teacher Treena.

I want to be a journalist, a newscaster.

I married young because I had no choice.

But my children can become doctors, engineers, pilots.

My children do have a choice.

Tell me a joke.

There was this girl and her grandmother.

The girl was extremely beautiful and sweet,

just like you.

They went into a store and asked

how much one meter of fabric costs.

The shopkeeper said, "One meter of fabric costs one kiss."

The girl says, "Okay, I'll take ten meters

and my grandmother here will pay you."