After a chilly November morning as the after-noon sun scorched in the sky and the school day came to an end, our regular skater boys gathered, eager to begin their routine practice session. But this day was special; a group of young schoolgirls, accompanied by their teachers, arrived at the skatepark with palpable excitement. This incident marked the culmination of two weeks of dedicated workshops, where our instructors had visited schools, introducing these bright minds to the world of skateboarding.
Khempur - a village that embodies rural Northern India, is a place where early marriages are common, older generations often disapprove of kids skating flippantly, and married women traditionally cover their faces in public. These norms are typical in rural Rajasthan, yet reality often defies expectations. Picture this: a class of 50 girls in a skatepark, many of them stepping into a skatepark for the first time. The sense of freedom they felt, gliding on their boards, mirrored the joy that filled DD Skatepark that afternoon.
"Making SKATER GIRL was one of the toughest and most challenging experiences for me but when I see moments like this where a new skater girl steps on the board, I know that pain was worth it because our film has lived beyond its message" said Manjari Makijany, Director of Skater Girl.
Vinati Makijany, one of the skatepark's founders also shared her thoughts "We have witnessed what the lives of these young women look like while we were researching and considering this village [Khempur] to build the skatepark back in 2018. To see some of them embrace freedom, even if it means for one afternoon is what we have been waiting to see for years. The joy of seeing them on the board is unparalleled!" she said.
From creating Skater Girl—a story about a young girl discovering skateboarding and facing social pressures—to running a thriving community skatepark, The team has seen their vision become a tangible reality. The day marked a significant milestone for the community at large and a step in the direction of positive change. The sight of these young girls, many experiencing the thrill of skateboarding for the first time, was a powerful testament to the change that Skater Girl aimed to inspire.
Seeing these girls embrace skateboarding with such enthusiasm was a poignant reminder of why the skatepark was created. The vision of the skatepark was not just the introduce a sport, but challenge them to embrace new possibilities. The skatepark offered them a glimpse of something thrilling and transformative.
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