“When I was child I used to sleep on the roof watching the tracers from the bullets. It was exciting, like watching a celebration party.”

Merza Mohammedi
My name is Merza I live in Kabul. I am around 17 years old. I was born in Darulaman. I don’t remember exactly when I was born, but I remember when we went to Parwan province because of the fighting. There was no Taliban in the Shomali plains, there was still a war, but we lived with it.

At that time there was lots of hardship and suffering, the Taliban were always hitting people for not following their orders. After one year I came back to Kabul, although the Taliban were still here. I liked some parts of the war. When I was child I used to sleep on the roof watching the tracers from the bullets. It was exciting, like watching a celebration party.

I started working I was about 14 years old, as a car washer with a lot of other kids in an area of Kabul called Macroroyan. It was a good time; hard work but we had fun. Then one day these foreigners turned up and started skateboarding in the big empty fountain in the Macroroyan housing complex. I didn’t skate but one of my friends, Wais did. At first I just watched him because I couldn’t skate and I was too scared, but I was actually really keen to try it. The people from Skateistan started to teach me and gradually I started to learn. Right now I am so happy.

Last year they built a skate park near the Olympic Stadium, where we have helmets and all the safety equipment. We have good skates and ramps.

Now I have a job here. Every morning I do cleaning and then if there are girl’s classes the female trainer teaches them but if there are boy’s classes we teach. If they already know how to skate we teach them tricks. And the students who are newcomers, we try to teach them everything and keep watching them to make sure that they do it right and don’t hurt themselves.

Before Skateistan I went to school and worked at the same time. I continued with school up to 9th grade, but then economic problems meant I had to leave. On Thursdays I study English here. My salary is 9500 Afs a month and I work six days a week. I am happy with the money that I am paid now. I could earn as much washing cars, but here I can exercise in a good place as well as study and work.

There is a saying “anyone who works hard will reap the benefit”. Anyone who likes me is very happy that I work and make good money. There are some jealous ones but they can’t do anything to me.

Next year I want to go back to school. I want to be an educated person but I will still come here to teach if they let me. I want to travel to other countries for skating competitions. I am very happy that the Taliban are gone. Life is better now.