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I recently came across this amazing story of an organisation making a huge difference to the young people of Afghanistan.
Skateistan
“Oliver is a skateboard teacher working for Skateistan, a non-profit organisation that combines skateboarding and education as a tool for empowering young people.
Half the population of Afghanistan is under the age of 16, and 70% of the population is under the age of 25.
Most shocking is the role that women play in society — most of them don’t have jobs and cannot go to school. It’s even been deemed culturally inappropriate for them to ride bicycles!
Skateboarding, however, is so new in Afghanistan that nobody has had a chance to forbid the girls from doing it. So, they skate!
Oliver only makes $10 a week, and he only has electricity every couple of days, but he is constantly rewarded by his time with the children: showing them how to skate, teaching them valuable skills in the classroom, taking them on field trips around Kabul.
He was even able to help a 12-year-old girl, Priscilla, get a job as a skateboarding instructor, so she could stop begging on the streets as a way of supporting her entire family.
Heartbreak
But Skateistan is not without its heartbreak. In April 2015, four of the school’s students were killed in a suicide bombing at the NATO facility in Kabul.
The community rallied together to help the families of the children who passed away, and at the skate park, a boy skated up and down the ramps in honor of his deceased brother.
A fantastic impact
Today, in Afghanistan, 40% of skateboarders are girls. Skateboarding is now the largest female sport in the country, and Skateistan continues to use it to educate and empower girls and boys through the community.”
Amazing organisation
What a wonderful example of Mental Resilience in extremely difficult circumstances. This organisation has impacted so many disadvantaged youngsters and has given them hope and a purpose.
It started with nothing but a dream and has now gained momentum and support. It just goes to show you that amazing things can happen when a dream combines with passion.
New Book out soon!
My new book comes out soon and next week I will be offering all my blog readers the first opportunity to pre-order a copy of my new book ‘100 Days to Mental Resilience’. The first 50 people who pre-order my book will receive a uniquely numbered and signed copy with a special message from me.
These 50 books with be totally unique and could well become a collector’s item in the future – who knows?!
It will be on a first come first served basis and I am extremely excited about this new book which is full of inspirational stories and techniques to develop Mental Resilience over 100 days.
You choose how you read it
The book can of course be read at whatever pace you desire but is designed to be a quick daily read with some powerful things to think about during the day including reflection and actions.
A booking from Germany
Last night I received a booking for September 2021 in Germany! Talk about forward planning! This is from a client I was booked for this September near Dusseldorf, but he doesn’t want to move me again so he hopes that things will be better by next September!
I’ve taken a few bookings recently, so things appear to be picking up. Most are on Zoom which is a great platform I am enjoying using and one is face to face in a very large room with plenty of space for social distancing for the 11 delegates.
Next month I would have been in Spain and Germany, but both have been postponed until next year as have Istanbul and Ireland.
We are all affected
Everyone on this planet is being affected by Covid 19 but it’s not what happens it’s how we respond which makes all the difference. We can get depressed and go into our shell or we can fight and stay positive knowing that things will improve, and we will survive then thrive.
I prefer to fight and stay positive and it always seems to be the best way forward. By keeping a positive mindset, you have more energy and more hope. You seem to draw good things into your life when you give out positive energy.
This is basically what my new book is about, and it describes how to move from a negative mindset to a positive mindset and how to stay there.
Thoughts for the week.
- How are you coping with the current situation?
- Are you looking for the positives in this negative situation or are you mainly focussed on all the negatives?
- I could look at Istanbul, Spain, Ireland and Germany as negatives because they have been postponed, but I look at them as exciting opportunities for next year.
- This week see how many positives you can find in your world and watch how much better you feel when you do.
Well that’s it for this week. Next week is the pre-launch of my new book and I am very excited about it.
Have a wonderful weekend and keep believing.
Warm and healthy regards
John
Off the Wall – How to Develop World Class Mental Resilience available HERE
http://www.jdmindcoach.co.uk/product/off-the-wall-how-to-develop-world-class-mental-resilience/ (Special offer. Put in code 10POUND when prompted to receive a signed copy for £10 including postage and packing – UK only
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