A Right To Skate sticker with the text "Afghan Girls" on a flag featuring the colours of the Afghan flag, surrounded by a laurel wreath and the words "Skateboard Team".

The Afghan Girls Skate Team was born out of an influx of young female refugees in Saskatoon following the Taliban’s attack on the Afghan government in 2021. Women and girls were forced into hiding, denied education, and many fled the country if they were able. 

Prior to 2021, Afghanistan was the home base of the world-renowned organization Skateistan. Skateistan hosted skateboard programs for youth, at least half of whom were girls, at their indoor skatepark in Kabul. The project became famous after the release of the documentary Learning to Skateboard in a WarzonE.

Today, the Afghan Girls Skate Team is one of Right To Skate's core programs. The 18-Person team trains year-round, hoping some of the skaters will one day compete. The team perfectly represents the mission and vision of our organization.

A woman wearing a black helmet and orange checkered shirt holding a large mock check for $1200 from Rights to Skate, awarded to Shafiqa Rezai for her work on the Afghan Girls Skate Team, with Afghanistan flag in the background.

Shafiqa’s story

In Afghanistan, Shafiqa Rezai was one of Skateistan’s young volunteers. At the age of 14, Shafiqa rode the bus to the skatepark with her peers after school, where she mastered skateboarding and helped the other children learn. Shafiqa was forced to stop skateboarding after Kabul fell to the Taliban. After a period in hiding at home, Shafiqa made the harrowing journey out of the country to a refugee camp where she awaited placement in a new country.

Shafiqa arrived in Canada in the fall of 2022 and first connected with Right to Skate at our Newcomer Skateboard Program with the Saskatoon Open Door Society. We were blown away at her talent, and after a lot of smiling at each other and using translation apps, we were amazed to learned about her history with Skateistan. The Newcomer Skateboard Program quickly filled with Afghan girls, and with Shafiqa's help, the Afghan Girls Skate Team was born.

Today, Shafiqa is a Right To Skate instructor and helps train the Afghan Skate Team. In April 2025, Right to Skate was proud to present Shafiqa with a $1200 scholarship to support her post-secondary education.

Right To Skate's Afghan Skate Team celebrating at a skateboarding event, holding a giant check for $1200, with skateboards and wearing helmets, in an indoor skate rink.
Three young girls of Right To Skate's Afghan Skate Team wearing helmets and casual clothing at an indoor skate or snowboard rink, engaged in conversation and showing friendly interactions.
Four young people of Right To Skat's Afghan Skate Team wearing helmets at an indoor skatepark. One girl is riding a skateboard, while the others watch and talk.
A young girl of Right To Skate's Afghan Skate Team skateboarding indoors on a ramp, wearing a blue helmet and a pink shirt.
Right To Skate's Afghan Skate Team celebrating at a skateboarding event, holding a giant check for $1200, with skateboards and wearing helmets, in an indoor skate rink.
A group of young girls in Right To Skate's Afghan Skate Team and a woman wearing helmets, holding skateboards, and talking inside a skatepark. The activity is about skateboarding lessons or practice.
Right To Skate's Afghan Skate Team at an indoor skatepark, some wearing helmets, watching skateboarders perform tricks on a ramp.
Young woman, one of Right To Skate's Afghan Skate Team members. wearing yellow pants, a white T-shirt that says 'Sleep Squad,' a green helmet, and fingerless gloves, holding a skateboard indoors in a skate rink.
A young girl, one of Right To Skate's Afghan Team members, smiling and wearing a helmet, protective gear, and casual clothes, practicing roller skating indoors with other people in the background.
A young woman, one of Right To Skate's Afghan Team members with glasses and dark hair smiling inside a skate park. She is wearing a colourful, patterned shirt and holding a purple skateboard with a pink design.

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The Right To Skate Logo. A cartoon gopher character wearing a yellow cap and yellow pants, riding a skateboard.