About us
What We Do
Skateistan Cambodia is a Cambodian association which uses skateboarding as a tool for social rehabilitation and youth empowerment. Skateistan Cambodia works with youth from diverse backgrounds, with a focus on disadvantaged and streetworking children. Through regular skateboard lessons and events, Skateistan equips boys and girls with the confidence to lead their communities toward social change and development.
Cambodia is the second country project of parent organization "Skateistan", which is the world’s first co-educational skateboarding school and an independent, neutral, Afghan NGO. Skateistan's mission statement is:
To use skateboarding as a tool for empowerment:
- in a place it hasn't existed before
- giving young people a voice, and;
- giving local people agency to shape projects according to need.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at the Skateistan Cambodia project please note that we only accept qualified, six-month volunteers. Shorter volunteer stays are not possible, as we have a strict policy against "voluntourism" to protect the children we work with and to work as effectively as possible. Volunteer applications can be submitted online here.
Who We Are
Team Cambodia
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Benjamin Pecqueur Benji has been working in Cambodia for over four years now as a public relations and events manager for a an international NGO working with street children. He graduated with a higher technical marketing degree in Toulouse, France, in 2001. He was the first to bring skateboarding to a Cambodian school, in 2011. Born in France, he has been skating in Marseille for 10 years. All general inquiries about the Skateistan Cambodia project should be directed to Benji, who can be contacted at: benjamin@skateistan.org or +855 (0) 77 367 227 |
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Dani is an experienced and passionate boardsport enthusiast who has taught surfing and snowboarding throughout the past 14 years. She is from Cologne, Germany, where she earned a diploma in Sport Science from the German Sport University in 2010. Dani is currently volunteering in Cambodia as the Programs Coordinator. Dani can be contacted at: dani@skateistan.org or +855 (0) 89 806 545 |
Daniela Weyers|
Chada was born in Cambodia and graduated in Business Administration at the NGO PSE in 2010. He is now working as the Country Manager's Assistant for Skateistan Cambodia. He says: “I am the first person who was interesting in skateboarding in Cambodia but I have just been skating since the beginning of 2011 in Phnom Penh City. Through skateboarding I would like to help street children, I want to give them hope both in education and in sport.” Chada can be contacted at sochada.leng@skateistan.org or +855 (0) 89 751 434 |
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Chanthou was born in Cambodia and graduated in Social Work at Royal University of Phnom Penh in 2011. She is currently a social worker for Skateistan Cambodia. Despite never having heard of skateboarding before, she really enjoys working with Skateistan because of its focus on using skateboarding as a tool to empower poor and disadvantaged children in Cambodia. Chanthou can be contacted at chanthou@skateistan.org or +855(0) 17 98 45 08 |
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Steve Tierney When Steve planned a trip to live in Cambodia he wasn't expecting to be riding a skateboard at all. Yet since arriving and joining the local Skateistan team, he has been skating more than he was back home in Sydney, Australia. Steve is a graphic designer/artist and along with helping in skate sessions for Skateistan Cambodia he hopes to combine his skills on several community art projects as well. Please send all media enquiries to cambodia@skateistan.org |
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Rick Valenzuela Rick is a still and video news photographer who first moved to Cambodia in 2002. He studied journalism at Temple University in Philadelphia, where he skated Love Park during its 90s heyday, and there he also edited Journal, a glossy skateboard magazine. His images have won awards across Asia and in the US, and he is a board member of the Overseas Press Club of Cambodia. |
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Rachel Murawski Rachel is a native of California, USA where she received her diploma and teaching credentials in Art. She has taught art in various public and private schools as well as in non-profit settings while focusing on the power of art to transform and empower youth. Her curriculum aims to explore and celebrate each child’s unique self-expression, culture, diversity, and sense of community. She has been actively involved in skateboarding, snowboarding and surfing culture since a child and continues to stoke these passions today. Rachel can be contacted at: rachel@skateistan.org or +855 (0) 89 751 434 |
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Rory Burke Rory comes to Skateistan from California, USA and has served as a collegiate lacrosse coach for the last eight years at Chapman University, where he recently earned a Masters Degree in International Studies, focusing on sport for development projects worldwide. Originally from Colorado, Rory has been involved in skateboarding since childhood. He hopes to use his coaching and teaching skills along with his educational experience to help Skateistan Cambodia's goal of using skateboarding as a social rehabilitation and empowerment tool for disadvantaged youth. Rory can be contacted at: rory@skateistan.org or +855 (0) 92 79 20 50 |
