Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Add Good to your Google News feed.
Google News Button

Skateboard Diplomacy: Kenny Reed on Skateistan and Girl Power In Mazar-i-Sharif

Facilities in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Cambodia teach community building, leadership, creative arts, and, of course, shredding.

Yasha Wallin
By Yasha WallinAug 12, 2012
Yasha Wallin
See Full Bio

Ever wonder what it’s like to go skateboarding in Kabul, Afghanistan? American pro skater Kenny Reed, whose passport reads like a tome, was one of the first to find out, back in 2009. He visited the country to teach local kids the sport in partnership with Skateistan, Afghanistan's first skateboarding school. In a sprawling facility that boasts a skatepark and classrooms, kids ages 5 - 17—many marginalized, some disabled, and 40% girls—are taught community building, leadership, creative arts, and skating by international and local volunteers.

Today, Skateistan's programs have expanded to Cambodia and Pakistan and another center is under construction in the relatively "safe" Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif. This summer Reed, with a group of Russian, German and American pros went back to Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif to check on the progress of this innovative nonprofit and to skate the streets, and dirt roads, of Afghanistan. Reed sent these photos and GOOD caught up with him via a temperamental Skype connection somewhere between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan while he was detained at immigration en route to a bachelor party... but that's another story.

GOOD: What was your plan for returning to the country?

KENNY REED: This trip was going to be something different altogether from my previous visits. We wanted to find out if there were any local skaters or skate spots in the northern part of the country. We were in touch with the Skateistan organization and found out that their next project was underway: building a new skatepark in Mazar-i-Sharif - the main city we were already planning to visit. We came in by land from Uzbekistan, on a bridge crossing, which seemed as if we were passing a bridge in time and space. We literally went from seeing teenage girls in mini skirts to enigmatic burqas only 30 minutes later.
GOOD: What was Mazar-i-Sharif like when you finally arrived?
REED: Our first day of skating was at the main roundabout in the center of town where a crowd of about 50 people had gathered within 10 minutes of us warming up. Every 10 minutes following there were 50 more, until there was nearly 500 curious passersby stopping in the middle of the road to get a glimpse of foreigners practicing a sport never before seen there in public. I can't imagine how odd our presence there must have been.
It came to the point where our gathering blocked the main roads, and traffic police came to intervene. They politely asked us to move on because of the chaos. The massive crowd started to argue in our favor. Even though they wished for us to continue this alien entertainment and somehow take part in this shared, innocent playfulness, we had to get going -and fast - as any stir in such a number of people could easily turn for the worse.
GOOD: While there you met the governor of Mazar-i-Sharif?
REED: Yes. On the following day, the scene we'd provoked had made it by word of mouth all the way to the governor of the province who invited us for tea and an informal greeting. He asked more about the sport and expressed how our presence there had given him hope for the youth to be more involved in sports and cross cultural understanding. During our meeting in his conference room he mentioned that he'd made an effort to set aside a good lot of land where the new [Skateistan] skatepark was to be built.
He assured us that the project had been further along then he had expected: up to 70% of the foundation had already been set. We put on a small show of our talents for their entire entourage who included members of parliament and a massive militia of up to 40 armed bodyguards. I was totally in awe of his hospitality and enthusiasm he'd shared with us.
GOOD: How did you personally feel as an American being there?
REED: I felt okay. It's a difficult question. I was sure the presence of our group was a good thing because we were there for a different reason then most of the foreigners they normally see - or don't see behind the sunglasses, guns, armor, and tanks. We really enjoyed our time there and tried to respect the local’s customs and be culturally sensitive.
GOOD: Skateboarding is typically a male-dominated sport, but at Skateistan close to half the participants are girls. Have you seen this alter gender relations in Kabul, or even within the confines of this isolated project?
REED: On the street I have seen changes since I was first there three years ago. Many more girls are attending schools and I also heard there are other sports facilities for them to join including basketball and taekwondo. [Skateistan is] definitely helping the community a lot. They are doing all kinds of projects locally. It's not only about the skatepark and equipment for the kids, there's so much more.
Photos courtesy of Kenny Reed
educationafghanistanphotographyskateboardingskateistan

The Latest

catherine o'hara, john candy, eulogy, friendship, speeches
Culture

Catherine O'Hara's tear-jerking eulogy for John Candy was a master class in honoring a friend

child medical tests, fear, toy, tips, mri
Health

Hospital buys $20,000 toy to calm child patients. Doctors say it’s worth every penny.

President, Donald J. Trump, Trump, forest, national forest, Roadless Rule, roll back
Environment

Public united and adamantly opposes Trump’s plan to roll back the Roadless Rule

Alzheimer's, Alzheimer's Disease, research, memory loss
Health

A new scientific study says this simple plan could reduce one-third of all Alzheimer's cases

More For You

free speech, first amendment, constitution, freedom of the press, movies

Here are 5 thought-provoking films that explore free speech.

Photo credit: Canva, Aflo Images from アフロ（Aflo) (left, cropped) / indahlestar29 | Indah Lestari (right, cropped)

For absolutely no reason, here are 5 thought-provoking films about free speech

We don’t need an excuse to write about free speech and the mass media—the First Amendment is always a worthwhile topic. There’s truly no particular reason we’d choose to do that in September 2025, on a lovely early-fall afternoon. Well, OK, I guess there is one natural jumping-off point: the still-simmering saga involving Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Disney, President Trump, the FCC, and displeased affiliate-station owners.

Following Kimmel’s (as of this writing) short-lived suspension following a controversial monologue joke, the concept of free speech has been top of mind for many Americans. (Just look at the Google Trends data—interest for the search term "first amendment" surged in mid-September.) It’s only natural to extend that curiosity over to your cinema or streaming platform, whether you’re looking for an intriguing documentary, harrowing biopic, or disturbing sci-fi dystopia. Here are five acclaimed films that feel especially worth watching any time—but also, maybe, especially, right now.

Keep ReadingShow less
social security, retirement, economy, money saving tips, america

There are some states where you can live entirely off of Social Security benefits.

Photo credit: Canva

A surprising new map shows the 10 states where people can live entirely on their Social Security

According to the Pew Research Center, 73.9 million people in the United States collect some form of Social Security benefit. By design, it has become a primary source of income for retirees in our country to help boost their accounts and pay for needs during their golden years. As the economy ebbs and flows, it can still be difficult for retired people to make ends meet even with Social Security benefits. However, a new map could help those folks find a place to live where their Social Security funds stretch further.

A new map created through data collected by Realtor.com has found ten states in the U.S. in which retirees could live comfortably off their Social Security benefits alone—provided their mortgage has been paid off. That is considered the most important factor. While other costs such as food, transportation, and health care are factors, the difference in those costs from state to state is minimal compared to the cost of shelter. If the cost of housing is lower, the more surplus Social Security money a person can have to use elsewhere.

Keep ReadingShow less
therapy, therapist advice, mental health, therapy lessons, anxiety

People say these small lessons from therapy felt like "bombshells."

Photo credit: Canva, Alex Green from Pexels

5 small 'bombshell' lessons learned in therapy that shifted people's perspectives

Therapy can be life-changing, but the "Eureka" moments aren’t always highlighted, underlined, and screaming at you, "This is important!" Sometimes there are seemingly minor pieces of wisdom or advice that sneak up on you, lingering past your sessions and ultimately helping reshape your thinking in a crucial way.

Clearly, combing through Internet forums is no replacement for speaking with an actual flesh-and-blood therapist, but it’s interesting to look around online and read about people’s experiences. Which brings us to one particularly intriguing thread on Reddit titled, "What’s a small bombshell your therapist dropped during a session that completely shifted your perspective?" There are thousands of responses, and a small handful seemed to really resonate.

Keep ReadingShow less
wedding, father-daughter dance, viral TikTok, chosen family, family dynamics, feel-good story, kindness, in-laws, emotional moment, marriage

A couple dances at their wedding

Canva

Her father refused to dance with her at her wedding. Her father-in-law's response was perfect.

For many brides, the father-daughter dance is one of the most anticipated moments of their wedding day—a cherished tradition symbolizing a lifetime of love and support. For bride Jess Anastasi (@jessanastasi_), that dream turned into a moment of acute pain, which was then transformed by an incredible act of love from an unexpected person.

In a now-viral TikTok video, Anastasi shared the emotional story. "I waited my whole life and was so excited to dance with my dad," she wrote. "Little did I know that my dad would refuse to dance with me. I was so heartbroken."

Keep ReadingShow less
preschool sweethearts, Amy Giberson, Justin Pounders, viral love story, dating app, meant to be, where are they now, St. Petersburg, PEOPLE magazine, serendipity

Two young children play outside

Canva

They met on a dating app. Their preschool class photo revealed an unbelievable secret.

Nearly a decade ago, the internet fell in love with a couple whose story felt like something straight out of a movie. Amy Giberson and Justin Pounders reconnected on a dating app as adults, only to discover their love story had actually begun 30 years earlier in a preschool classroom.

Their journey back to each other began when both found themselves single and living in their hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida. When Pounders came across Giberson’s profile on a dating site, he felt an immediate pull. "I saw her photo and for whatever reason, was instantly drawn to her," he told PEOPLE. "I can’t explain it, but I knew I had to get to know this girl."

Keep ReadingShow less
body language, first impressions, communication skills, nonverbal cues, charisma, confidence, social skills, eye contact, likability, self-improvement

A happy woman celebrates with a fist pump

Canva

Five simple body language shifts that can make you instantly more likable

Before you ever say a word, you’re already communicating. The way you stand, the gestures you make, and the expression on your face tell a story, and people begin reading it within seconds of meeting you. Some research suggests judgments about trustworthiness are formed in as little as a tenth of a second.

While you can’t control how others perceive you, you can influence it by being more intentional with your body language. Adopting a few key habits can help you appear more confident, open, and instantly more charming. Here are five to focus on.

Keep ReadingShow less
mini retirement, sabbatical, time off, vacation, work break, career break, mental health, generations

Young couple on vacation.

Image via Canva - Photo by Rido

New trend has workers blowing their savings in favor of enjoying 'mini-retirements'

The markets consistently rise and fall like a roller coaster. One person's savings have them retiring like kings on a Monday, and then by Friday, the floor falls out. Suddenly, sandy beaches are replaced with hard work for an extra decade instead. The truth is, we can plan for the future, but there is no way to secure a perfect outcome.

Some bold individuals in every generation have decided to take dominion over what they actually can: the present. Why wait for the future when you can implement the best parts throughout your life, today? People are taking breaks from work by dipping into their funds for "mini retirements." It's not just one generation. It's all of them.

Keep ReadingShow less
religion, students, education, core values, evolution, creationism, conversation, science, faith

Creative interpretation of the evolution of man.

Image via Canva - Photo by Petrovich

These 5 conversation tools helped religious students embrace evolution

When it comes to the discussion of evolution versus faith, the battle lines can be fiercely defended. Finding common ground on a complex topic can be challenging. Things that people hold as core values are more than ideas; they're emotional. Learning how to have more effective and rewarding conversations with people who hold differing opinions is crucial to maintaining a healthy community.

A 2025 study published in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion aimed to understand why the Culturally Competent Instruction Model (CCIM) helps students think differently about the Bible. In essence, it's a learning model that effectively allowed students to keep their religious beliefs without having to choose between faith and science. The success suggests that specific conversation tools can be used to help people find common ground over complicated conversations.

Keep ReadingShow less
© Copyright 2025