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Za’atari Refugee Camp, District 5

In Partnership with

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project

Capoeira in the Peace Oasis

Location

Za’atari Refugee Camp, District 5, Jordan

Target

This project targets Syrian refugee children between the ages of 9 and 18 living in Za’atari refugee camp. Capoeira4refugees (C4R) uses social capoeira as a form of psychosocial support to these children, through their many years of expertise working with vulnerable youth.

Za’atari’s residents derive mainly from Syria’s Southwest Dara’a Governorate, which witnessed some of the worst of Syria’s civil war violence.

Impact

Using capoeira and its various elements of music, play and sport, C4R trainers focus on building a strong community amongst its students who share the knowledge capoeira provides but also share a safe space to express themselves. The classes incorporate social rodas which gives students the time and space to discuss opinions and thoughts about the classes as well as life in general.

“I learned from capoeira that you don’t get mad at each other when someone accidentally hits you. We need to have love between us before and after the class.”
(14 YO Male)

Since January, these students have made a great deal of progress in both capoeira and their emotional wellbeing. One girl arrives at the Peace Oasis an hour before the class every time, asking to practice her music. She began capoeira classes timid, but is now leading songs and demonstrating movements to her peers.

This program also empowers local Syrian facilitators who assist in the capoeira classes, giving them private training and attention with the aim that they will take over these classes one day.

“I like capoeira more than other sports because capoeira makes us stronger. The teachers [also] let us do silly movements and just scream. This makes me more relaxed and comfortable.”
(16 YO Female)

Topics

#Free4Kids
#Refugee Camps

Contact

hello@capoeira4refugees.org

 

 

 

 

 

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Irbid host community

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project

Irbid host community

Location 

Irbid, Jordan

Target

This program targets the Syrian refugee community in Irbid, an area in North Jordan close to the Syrian border, and to Dara’a, where many of these refugees came from. Irbid hosts 136,000 Syrian refugees, according to the UNHCR. Around 85% of Syrian refugees live in host communities rather than formal refugee camps, with most living below the poverty line.

This program uses social capoeira as a form of psychosocial support for Syrian refugee youth. Around 25 male and female youth attend these classes regularly.

Impact

The girls learn basic capoeira movements, play games and dance, building a community among themselves. They are so passionate about the music that they research new songs to learn at home, and have started leading songs by themselves.

The young men are advancing in their capoeira movements and physical abilities. Social capoeira training helps them to release stress, focus and play in a space where they are free to be themselves

Topics

#Free4Kids
#Marginalised Communities
#Outreach to host communities

Contact

hello@capoeira4refugees.org

 

 

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Azraq Refugee Camp Village 5

Project Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project

Capoeira4Refugees in partnership with NRC

Location

Azraq Refugee Camp Village 5, NRC Youth Centre

Target

Azraq refugee camp’s Village 5 district is one of the most restrictive camps lived in by Syrian refugees. These families are engulfed by barbed-wire topped fence that divides them from the rest of Azraq camp’s residents. Housing the most recent arrivals from Syria, these extra security restrictions isolate the residents from most activities. Village 5 youth have very little to occupy themselves with as they await their security clearance.

Capoeira classes have been held in NRC’s Youth Center for over five months, during which these young males have built a strong community and culture with their capoeira teammates, outside of their daily pressures.

“Capoeira is not about violence but peace, you play with and you don’t play against. You smile with your partner.” (18 YO Male)

Impact

Capoeira in NRC’s Youth Center has made huge strides in building a strong community of young males passionate about capoeira. About 25 regular participants train together, exercising and rapidly learning new movements, flips and dialogue inside the game. Capoeira4Refugee’s trainers provide direction and the positive energy of a capoeira ‘batteria’ (music) to which the students play, learn and encourage each other.

This project has worked on fostering a space where young adults experience something new, entering a new world and culture including the portuguese language, foreign instruments, and an understanding of a physical dialogue that teaches personal space and respect for one another.

“I think I will keep trying to be the leader. I will never let go of capoeira, even if the program ends. I will keep playing capoeira.” (22-year-old male)

Topics

#Free4Kids
#Refugee Camps
#Special Needs

Contact

hello@capoeira4refugees.org

 

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Tem Jogo in Santa Ana, California

Project

Tem Jogo

Location

Santa Ana, California, USA

Target

Sonia Velasquez started this project by creating a youth ensemble studying multiple forms of cultural dance including Capoeira. ContraMestre Versatil began the Capoeira portion of this program in early 2000. This project serves the youth of Santa Ana California, a city with a large Latino immigrant population. Arts and extracurricular programs have been missing from the school system here and matriculation rates are below average.

Currently instructors Chun-Sheng ‘Arisco’ Wang, Paul ‘Caboclo’ Natividad, and alumna Micol Celeste Issaithe also facilitate the program, all have experience working with social projects and relief efforts in Haiti.

Impact

Through community outreach, a large number of students that have been in the program have graduated high school and are attending college. For this fall, one former student was accepted to Yale. The leaders of this project believe in instilling values of global citizenship, self-love, self-respect in their students, and the knowledge that they can elevate themselves and their communities with these guiding principles.
Through the Academy of International Dance and Splendors of the World Dance Festival, the project has been able to expand to Rijeka, Croatia, a city with a large population of Muslim Romani and Muslims of Bosnian heritage. Their goal is for this aspect of the program to grow and bring the power of art and culture to many other places by partnering with groups in the ground who also work youth who are at risk.

Topics

Arts
Education
Music
Children and Youth development

Contact

Website: www.TemJogo.com
Email: Versatil@TemJogo.com

Social media:
Facebook.com/temjogocapoeira

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Gingando No Mar in Bahia, Brazil

Project

Gingando No Mar

Location

Ilha de Itaparica, Bahia, Brazil

Target

Project Gingando no Mar provides ground-breaking education and training for young people and their families. There are only limited spaces within the local school so many children find themselves turned away. Experiences of drug abuse, petty crime, violence, teenage pregnancies and the breakdown of family life are common in this area.

Gingando no Mar offers activities to build confidence, skills for employment and assist in developing community cohesion. Project Gingando no Mar also provides access to basic facilities such as IT equipment, health advice and learning materials.

Impact

Gingando no Mar offers activities to build confidence, skills for employment and assistance in developing community cohesion. Project Gingando no Mar also provides access to basic facilities such as IT equipment, health advice and learning materials.

Topics

Arts
Education
Music
Children and Youth development

Contact

Website: http://www.angoleirosdomar.com/gingando/

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Independencia Capoeira Social

Project

Independencia Capoeira Social

Location

Jose Leon Suarez, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Target

Independencia Capoeira Social started as an art workshop in 2010 in the municipality of San Martin. After a few months, the project was forced to change locations, and training continued in public square nearby. The children were very enthusiastic, and when a space was secured to develop activities, both children and parents alike attended classes.

Classes are for vulnerable children living in the Independencia, an underserved neighborhood of Jose Leon Suarez. The goal of Independencia Capoeira Social is to keep kids off the streets and back into schools or jobs. They use capoeira as a tool to teach values ​​such as responsibility, honesty, commitment, and as a tool for drug and addiction prevention.

There are a variety of students attending, both boys and girls, ages 6-23. There is a is a group of mothers who remain active as well.

Impact

The project is run by leader Jose Aguilera, as well as older and more experienced students assisting and teaching classes in different places. The project sustains itself through different fundraising activities such as selling raffle tickets, or homemade cookies that are sold at a local fair.

“The great achievement that we have is that most are studying again and some work and study
among other things. In a tournament we held a few months ago we won two first places in beginners and advanced categories and second in beginners.”

Topics

Arts
Education
Music
Children and youth development

Contact

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLxZTj4EjPZ3-lNtH8hKIw

https://www.facebook.com/Independenciacapoeirasocial/

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