in afghanistan, many girls are forbidden from riding bicycles   they are, however, allowed to ride skateboards so when australian skateboarder oliver percovich created skateistan, a non profit organization that aims to connect youth in afghanistan with education through skateboarding, it shouldn't have been a surprise that 40 per cent of the program's students would be girls in 2012, photographer jessica fulford dobson decided to take pictures of these middle eastern skater girls, and her work was recently on display at a gallery in london scroll down for video  tough girls: photographer jessica fulford dobson took pictures of young girls skateboarding in dresses and skirts in kabul, afghanistan  finding time for fun: most girls are not allowed to ride bikes in afghanistan, but skateboarding isn't against the rules  according to feature shoot, when mr percovich first brought the program to kabul, afghanistan in 2007, many of the locals had never even heard of skateboarding in fact, ms fulford dobson said she believes the reason skateboarding has been received so differently in afghanistan than in other countries is precisely because it was new to the region 'when skateboarding arrived in afghanistan, it didn't have any preconceived images for them they didn't know what it was,' she said, while adding that it was only accepted after it became clear that it was just 'a toy to have fun with' safety first: while the girls were conservatively dressed, they didn't forgo safety measures like wearing helmets and knee pads  little ladies who skate: ms fulford dobson said she was fascinated with just how immaculate one girl, left, was, considering how dusty the skateboard facilities were  this sport knows no gender: 40 per cent of skateistan's students are female; the girls also have the option of joining a back to school program  now, its the top sport for girls in the country, who are able to ride freely in dresses and other clothing that can be restrictive when playing other sports when ms fulford dobson visited the skateistan facilities in 2012, she quickly noticed their confidence and the joy they took in learning she took pictures of them with natural light, capturing them in dresses, pants, headscarves and sneakers as they happily played on skateboards 'i captured about nine in total,' she told the bbc, recalling one girl whose father had initially told her she couldn't join the skateboarding program he finally relented after she wouldn't stop begging him girls will be girls: ms fulford dobson said she was struck by the girls' confidence and how happy they were to skateboard  unconventional athletic gear: the style of dress required by girls can make it difficult to play other sports, but luckily it doesn’t tend to interfere with their skateboarding  'i met so many impressive women and girls in afghanistan: a teacher as tough and determined as any man; young afghans in their early twenties who were volunteering at an orphanage and were passionate about being seen as strong and willing to fight for themselves, rather than as victims of circumstance; and girls who were being educated to be leaders in their communities and who were already thinking carefully about their own and their country’s future,'  ms fulford dobson said that education is a top priority for skateistan, as many children in kabul from low income families are forced to drop out of school to earn money besides being taught to skateboard, the program's participants are also invited to join a free back to school program to help them get back on track with their education
jessica fulford dobson skateistan kabul australian oliver percovich
photographer jessica fulford dobson took pictures of the girls at the skateistan facilities in kabul . australian oliver percovich created skateistan, an ngo, to promote education through skateboarding; participants can also join a free back to school program 