New skate hall aims to curb violence against boarding school students

Langelands Efterskole in Rudkøbing has built a skate hall after students experienced harassment, threats and assaults, DR reports. The facility is intended to bring local residents and students closer together.

Several students were targeted during the winter, both in the local area and at the school itself.

School principal Michael Thagaard said the skate hall would provide a meeting place where students and local residents could engage in dialogue.

“It is an attempt to build bridges instead of meeting in disagreement. It is a belief that this can help break down some barriers,” he said.

Open to the local community

The skate hall is part of several initiatives aimed at opening the school further to local people and creating greater understanding between students and residents.

Every Wednesday from 3pm to 5pm, local children, young people and adults will be invited to use the hall. An instructor from the school and school students will be present.

The initiative has also been welcomed by the students. Shay Gholampoor Tizhoosh, a student at the school, said it was important for local residents to get to know them.

“I hope this can fix the problems we have with the young people around the town. I want to get to know them and for them to know that we are not bad or dangerous,” the student said.

Thagaard said the earlier incidents had received significant attention in the press and locally. He said students had subsequently been met with support when they went into town.