“Skateboarding transcends sexes, races, everything. That’s what I believe, until the end of time.”

A story about the empowerment of women in South Africa through skateboarding, Get Used To It is a documentary which depicts the NGO Skateistan’s project to build a ‘Skate School’ in Johannesburg.

Set in the chaotic city of Johannesburg, Get Used To It depicts an environment which is unfriendly for young people, and women specifically. The documentary follows one of skateboarding’s hardest working NGOs, Skateistan, which educates and empowers young people by giving them opportunities to build their own skateboarding community in primarily underprivileged areas. (You can find out more about them in our interview here.) One of the most interesting things about Skateistan’s work in countries like Afghanistan and South Africa, is that so many of the people they work with are women.

Girls have less opportunities than boys in most countries in the world. In areas of conflict they are twice as likely as boys to not go to school. Women’s empowerment is in the interests of all societies. When women contribute equally everyone gains. A bird can’t fly with one wing. – Oliver Percovich, Exec. Director of Skateistan.

Making the most of the technology we carry around with us everyday, BLAM Studio utilise the oolipo platform, canvassing mixed medias via interactive storytelling. Simply get yourself onto the App store and download oolipo, you’ll find Get Used To It up there waiting for you. Beautifully filmed, with the satisfying ring of informative and well balanced journalism, this is one of the most modern skateboarding productions we’ve had in years.

The quote we began with rings true and was echoed by Oliver Percovich of Skateistan, when he told us quite simply: “everybody falls off a skateboard the same way, it doesn’t matter where you’re from.” This is the fundamental truth of skateboarding: it’s just a skateboard, it is wood on wheels. It is not prejudice. It will throw you down if you let it. But If you can just hold on, stay upright, balance, get used to it – the simplicity of this little toy can connect people all over the world.

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