Skatepark SOS Children's Village, Palestine/ Bethlehem

For Skate-Aid, we have planned a skate park for the SOS Children's Villages in Bethlehem/Palestine.



In 2014, Ralf Maier went to Bethlehem together with Max Henninger from Skate-Aid to prepare the construction of the skate park. After initial discussions, the local conditions were also inspected. After the final coordination meeting with the national and international SOS Children's Villages section, the construction of the skate park with construction phase I was decided for November 2014.



In addition to the skate pool, a multifunctional area has been created, which is modeled on an atrium theater. In addition to skating, you can also sit, read and do other things there.



The project is aimed at children and young people aged ten and over. While the focus for the children is still more on the fun of skateboarding and sporting activities, the older young people are given special support through supporting programs and at the same time experience community in the group through sport and exercise. The SOS Children's Village Bethlehem is located near the historic site of Shepherd's Field in the West Bank. Aside from the political instability and prevalent violence, the area suffers from a high unemployment rate and high levels of poverty - around 46 percent of the population live below the government-established poverty line.



In order to realize the construction of the skateboard facility, the young people supported the construction work. As a result, they learned basic craft techniques along the way and had a positive relationship with the project right from the start. This not only boosted their self-confidence, but also their job prospects. Over the course of the project, a close link was established between formal and informal education, leisure and sport.