After months of hard work, Skateistan Maboneng, Johannesburg, is in the final stages of construction. It's a project that originally began in Kabul, Afghanistan, when Australian skater Oliver Percovich arrived in the city with three skateboards. Like a modern Pied Piper, he soon had children following him around the city as he taught them how to skate.GIRL POWER: A Skateistan fan in KabulConcerned about the lack of opportunities for Afghan kids, especially girls, Percovich discovered a loophole for them to get around quickly - although they aren't allowed to ride bikes, they are allowed to skate.In 2009 Skateistan officially opened Afghanistan's first indoor skate park in Kabul within a 1750m² facility that includes classrooms, offices and a sport court.Since then, the project has expanded with Skateistan sites in Mazar-E-Sharif, Afghanistan; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; and now, Johannesburg. The international headquarters is in Berlin, Germany.The idea behind the project is to use skateboarding to connect and uplift disadvantaged youth with educational opportunities, focusing particularly on girls.GRINDERMAN: Work is rapidly nearing completion at the Skateistan site in downtown JoburgThe skate park is designed as a hook for the kids, from which the NGO runs various programmes providing youth with leadership opportunities and a safe environment to build friendships.The Johannesburg branch of Skateistan came about when the Danish ambassador to South Africa, who had served a term in Afghanistan, suggested the city's youth would benefit from the project.The project is being facilitated by a group of young US skaters with funds from the Danish embassy; Tony Hawk, a famous professional skater; and an organisation called Skateroom, which has contributed $300000. The skaters are from New York. They get artists to paint skateboards which they auction.SAUCY: US artist Paul McCarthy's work was donated to auction, the proceeds of which went to the Maboneng development in JohannesburgWell-known US artist Paul McCarthy is painting boards to auction to benefit the Maboneng centre.The founder and CEO of Joburg-based urban development company Propertuity, Jonathan Liebmann, who is responsible for the gentrification of the Maboneng district, has given Skateistan the land on a 20-year, rent-free lease.The building is being made from donated Big Boxshipping containers and is designed by Mike Scott, who also designed Skateistan's building in Mazar-E-Sharif.The 500m² skate park was designed by skate park landscapers from Canada and aims to attract more than 400 children by the end of 2017. They'll offer programmes such as Skate and Create, Dropping-In and Youth Leadership. It will act as a regional training hub to develop other Skateistan projects in South Africa and throughout Africa.Kids have to register to use the park - for every hour they skate, they have to participate in a programme. It will host homework help and career advice. It is open to children from 5 to 17 years old.To donate to Skateistan go to www.crowdrise.com/help-us-raise-50000-for-our-new-skate-school-in-south-africa..