Early days... Plans (and pencil) tick. Reviewing the documentation before earth has been turned for the Jayyous Skate Park, Palestine. This is day 1 of the 7 week build. All delivered by an international team of selfless volunteers and importantly local support.

Looking down at a blank canvas with a pretty flat topography. This space in a few weeks will be one of the few skate parks in Palestine thanks to SkatePal and SkateQilya. The construction plans document a collaborative design, specific to this site and community.

Looking at the bare site with the backdrop of the local school. The picture doesn't offer the constant calls of 'what's your name, where are you from?' as we continually distracted the chaotic kids. The flat surface of the schools courtyard was the skate space, allowing the locals to develop their skills prior to getting an actual skate park.

No turning back now as Josh (international volunteer) follows a chalk like to cut into the existing wall. All to make a rebate to fix in the new concrete banks. Good OH&S.

Working hard or hardly working. Getting the locals to help where ever possible. Here Hamoodi is mixing mortar for the brick walls. He was a constant on the site, offering a hand whenever required. Something ironic about making walls in Palestine.

All hands on deck (even if its just for a photo) with Jayyous locals. A crew that was on site most days, helping however they could whether it was shifting dirt or catching snakes.

Local girls from SkateQilya helping out. First time on the power tools and smashed (cut) it. Great to have them all there over a couple of days allowing the opportunity to contribute towards their space.

Little help needed before the girls from SkateQilya were leading the way. Always good when the local youth can help build their space, developing the early stages of ownership.

Numerous jobs allowing the locals to utilise their skills/passions assist where they want. The girls took up the task of designing and painting the entry sign for the skate park.

Always good offering some colour to portland grey concrete. The entry sign greets all who walk up the hill to enter the new Jayyous Skate Park. Amazing effort all done by the locals in a couple of hours.

Everyone surrounding the pump in anticipation of the first concrete pour for the Jayyous Skate Park. The banked wall was the first in the pour sequence to get completed. We utilised the local boom truck with pump wherever possible, avoiding the need to wheel barrow concrete from the entry. Once the concrete stops pouring all hands on deck to shape and finish the surfaces.

No rest once the concrete is poured. Spent long days/nights finishing off the concrete due to avoiding pours in the heat of the day. Patiently waiting for the concrete to dry between the numerous passes, ensuring a class 1 finish. I think the best shift was 28 hours straight.

3am and the mini ramp transitions are done as the lights in neighbouring Israel light up the background. Something nice hanging around in the quiet with a few mates to concentrate on singular elements, aiming for that perfect finish. All worthwhile as with its mellow height/radius and transfer options the mini ramp will probably be the most used element in the park.

With the park set up ready for concrete it was a daily task to calculate how much concrete we needed to order according to our sequencing. Too little and we'd fall behind whilst too much and it would go to waste. Measured up the areas to pour the day before in anticipation of getting the order through to the concrete plant the next morning. Measuring tape and pencil seemed to do the job.

Often had a barrage of locals coming by the site for updates. Probably had to do with the park being next door to the local school. It took some imagination at first considering many hadn't used let alone seen a skateboard before. The local skaters were always nearby to help explain what was taking shape as we progressed.

A well used gesture throughout Palestine, a place where its certainly justified. Despite daily interruptions to everyday life the kids were so positive and continually engaging. Looking forward to seeing how they utilise their new space.

Building the wall to cut down the wall... With form work cut to the specified radius the previously built wall is now cut to suit. Using the right tool, sufficient safety equipment and necessary Hawaiian shirt!

Tying the steel bars to make steel mesh resulting in a ready made product that is sold in most countries. Not in Palestine. Definitely a tedious task but with flats normally being the very last concrete pour is does signal a park that will soon be ready to skate.