
LOÏC LAFORGE
Touche d' Espoir
2 0 1 5 / 2 0 1 6
During the summers of 2015 and 2016 I have been taking part as a volunteer in project called " Skatepal", which aims to introduce skateboarding to the children of the West Bank, Palestine, by building skateparks, offering skateboards and teaching skateboarding.
While I worked as a volunteer, giving skateboard lessons and travelling around to meet Palestinian skateboarders, I took the opportunity to capture the everyday lives of Palestinian children in photographs ... what do they do ?, what do they have to face under military occupation ?, and what could skateboard bring them ? .
For skateboarders around the world , a skateboard is more than just a toy. It is a tool for self development, self confidence, perseverance and gives you the possibility to look at your surrounding as a playground. More than this skateboarding is a lifestyle made of sharing, travelling, discovering, having fun with your friends without barriers of class, "race", age and gender.
40% of Palestinians are under the age of 15 and more than 50% of young people are struggling to find work. Cultural, educational and sporting opportunities offer a chance for young people to be involved productively in their community.
With this short explanation it still becomes obvious what skateboarding can bring to children living in such a situation.
But most of all skateboarding for Palestinian youth is Resistance ! A message saying that no matter what "israel" can do, whatever wall they can put up ... they will keep on having fun, smiling and skateboarding ... they will keep on living, existing and resisting !

![]() Ramallah islamic club, Ramallah, 2015 | ![]() Ramallah islamic club, Ramallah, 2015 | ![]() peacefull protest, Bil´in, 2015 |
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![]() peacefull protest, Kafr Quaddum, 2016 | ![]() Nablus city, 2016 | ![]() Abo Ali walking through his land, Asira al Shamaliya, 2016 |
![]() Zebabdeh skatepark, Zebabdeh, 2015 | ![]() Abo Ali teaching, Asira al Shamaliya, 2016 | ![]() Abo Ali, feeble grind, Asira al Shamaliya, 2016 |
![]() Youssef and Djamila's father with his goats, Asira al Shamaliya, 2016 | ![]() Asira skatepark, Asira al Shamaliya, 2016 | ![]() SOS village, Betlahem, 2015 |
![]() checkpoint to Shuhada street, Al Khalil ("Hebron"), 2016 | ![]() peacefull protesters running from tear gas and live ammunition, Kafr Quaddum, 2016 | ![]() Kafr Quaddum, 2016 |
![]() | ![]() Abdullah, Qalqilya, 2016 | ![]() Youssef, Asira al Shamaliya, 2016 |
![]() Ramallah islamic club, Ramallah, 2015 | ![]() civilian passage, Huwwara checkpoint, Nablus, 2016 | ![]() Basma, Asira al Shamaliya, 2016 |
![]() Asira skatepark, Asira al Shamaliya, 2016 | ![]() Mohamad, Asira al Shamaliya, 2016 | ![]() Jihad and adam sleeping lights on, Bil'in 2016 |
![]() Yasser Arafat, Qalqilya, 2015 | ![]() friday weekly peacefull protest, Nabi Saleh, 2015 | ![]() Bil'in, 2016 |
![]() Freedom for comrade Bilal Kayed, political prisonner on hunger strike, peacefull demonstration from PFLP and family, Asira al Shamaliya, 2016 | ![]() party for graduation, Asira al Shamaliya, 2016 | ![]() Asira al Shamaliya, 2016 |
![]() Yasen family´s house, Bil´in, 2015 | ![]() Faris and Tom getting new set up, Asira al Shamaliya, 2016 | ![]() Abood, new board, Asira al Shamaliya, 2016 |
![]() Ramallah isamic club, Ramallah, 2015 | ![]() Ramallah islamic club, Ramallah, 2015 | ![]() Djamila and the boys up for a skate sesh, Asira al Shamaliya, 2016 |
![]() Abdullah's home, Qalqilya, 2016 | ![]() Al-amari refugee camp, Ramallah, 2015 | ![]() peacefull protesters, Kafr Quaddum, 2016 |
![]() peacefull protesters, Kafr Quaddum, 2016 | ![]() apartheid wall Aida refugee camp, Betlahem, 2015 | ![]() peacefull protesters throwing back tear gaz, Nabi saleh, 2015 |
![]() Kafr Quaddum, 2016 | ![]() Anes, Asira al Shamaliya, 2016 | ![]() SOS village, skate aid skatepark, Betlahem, 2015 |
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