A great year for the Trust!

2012 has been a busy year, here are a few things that have been going on...

Marathon fundraising events

 In April three brave capoeristas from Abolicao Synergy London – Viola, Coringa and Mez ran a half marathon in Buckinghamshire to raise funds for the Abolicao Trust.  They did a fantastic job, raising a hugely impressive £1758. 56 to support the group in Hamburg. Amazing work - well done guys!

In November, the Trust held a Saturday morning Roda and cake sale in Oxford. Capoeiristas, friends and parents from the children’s group came to play / watch the roda and eat some delicious home made cakes. A fantastic £250 was raised for the Trust and a lovely time was had by all... I’m sure this won’t be the last cake related activity we hold!

Exchanges

The beginning of the year saw seventeen capoeiristas descend on South Africa to spend ten days training with the Hamburg group, culminating in their energy-filled 5th Batizado (celebration and grading ceremony) for both the children's and adult's groups. More on this in the post below.

In December, the Trust invited Nkosomzi Speelman (Zumbi), one of the original members of the Hamburg group, to the UK for the 12th Batizado in Oxford. Zumbi has been a comitted member of the group for the past thirteen years and has gone on to set up a sister group in Cape Town where he has been at University. Zumbi spent ten days training with the Oxford and London groups, and taking part in all the workshops and grading at the Batizado. He also accompanied C-M Negao to the CNBrazil end of year Batizado, and managed to squeeze in a bit of sightseeing in London and Oxford. He left a very tired, but very happy capoeirista!

Exchanges like this are so important to the Trust's work, as they strengthen the connection between the groups, and keep the learning and development of skills flowing in both directions. The UK capoeiristas came home from South Africa with valuable learning, not only on what happens inside the roda, but with a new awareness and appreciation of South African life and culture. In turn, Zumbi returns to South Africa full of enthusiasm after his first trip abroad, and ready to share with the group all he has learnt during his time in the UK, so that everyone there will also be able to develop their skills and grow from his experiences.

More to come on Zumbi soon!

12th annual Batizado, Oxford

At the beginning of December, students and teachers from the UK, Brazil, South Africa and France converged on East Oxford for the 12th annual Abolicao Batizado.

As always the weekend was full of energy and workshops were given by some fantastic teachers who well and truly put the students through their paces. Everyone managed to save enough energy to have a fantastic party on the Saturday night though, part of the proceeds of which will go towards the Trust's work.

Thanks so much to everyone who has supported the Trust this year - it's a really tough time for small charities like ours at the moment, so it means a lot to have you behind us. 2013 is already looking set to be another great year for the Trust so watch this space.

We are of course, always looking for new supporters, so if you think you may be able to give some time, donate or volunteer to help continue the Trust's work - we would love to hear from you! Get in touch on info@abolicao-trust.org

Axe Abolicao!

Abolição Hamburg Batizado 2012

In April this year, Abolição Hamburg had their fourth Batizado with Contra-Mestre Negão,  Mosqueteiro and Xaruto, who started the project in 2003.  Seventeen capoeiristas from Abolição Oxford and Synergy in London also made the trip over from the UK to take part, making it the first exchange to South Africa of this size that the Trust has organised.

The UK students were warmly welcomed in Hamburg and spent ten days staying in the village, training with the group and visiting other local projects run by the Keiskamma Trust. It was a fantastic opportunity for Abolição students to meet and learn from each other and strengthen the links between the groups.  

Training was led by C-M Negão, graduados and local teacher Tigre, and music workshops were run to practice songs and learn new rhythms. There was also time for beach rodas, walks to the lagoon and of course, what trip to South Africa would be complete without a barbeque...?!

Pescoso, from Abolição Synergy in London, says: 

"This was a special experience. I feel so lucky to have been a part of it, and have come away with a rich sense of a connection with my fellow capoeiristas in Hamburg."

 

The exchange was so successful plans are afoot to organise another visit soon so watch this space...

Check out the fantastic video of the kid's Batizado, by Sarah Sea 

 

Wow... it's been quite a while since our last post. But be assured that work has been ticking along busily, with lots of exciting developments...

BRAZIL

Another trip was hosted to Brazil in July, with UK Capoeirstas visiting the project in Salavador to support the work and train with the kids, who continue to put us to shame with their moves. The local workers leading the project have now have attracted funding in the region and are able to operate more independently, which is the real aim of any good development work. The 5th Batizado (annual celebration and grading ceremony) was held at the project, with lots of new children gaining their first green cordao. And more and more opportunities are springing up for those attending the centre - English classes, percussion, dance, arts...



SOUTH AFRICA

Our teacher in Hamburg, Tigres, is doing a fantastic job and we're now able to pay him a proper salary in partnership with the local Keiskamma Trust. He is leading regular classes for children, adults, teaching in schools and performing at local festivals.

Capoeira has ignited real enthusiasm amongst the local young people, whose plans include -

• A new class in a neighbouring town
  
• Partnering with a local charity to develop HIV and drug-based educational projects through Capoeira
  
• An exhange visit to Cape Town, where one of the original group members has started university
  

One of the original members is now attending university in Cape Town and has launched a sister group there.

See a full report from Tom's recent visit.



FRIGHTENING FUNDRAISING

The Trust were invited to run a bar at a huge Halloween party in South London. We applied our spookiest make-up and knocked-out the Caipiroskas all night, raising an incredible £950! A big thanks to Jonny, Tom, Anna and other organisers. And of course, thanks to those who drank. And drank. And drank. For charity. We've spotted a new fundraising strategy, so watch this space for more merry events...

BATIZADO

It's that time of year again, when Oxford Capoeiristas limber up and prepare to be booted (in the friendliest way...) by Brazilians... Abolicao is hosting it's 10th Batizado, with students and teachers from Brazil, Italy and the UK converging on East Oxford for four days of training, new belts and Brazilian-style partying. This is a great opportunity for the Abolicao Trust to promote our work and we'll be there all weekend, sharing success stories and collecting funds to continue the work. We will also be helping run the party on Saturday night, with income from tickets and the bar heading straight out to our projects.

If you're in Oxford, come and check it out...

The dreaded cuts are proving very tough for small charities, with few opportunities from grant-giving organisations. We will depend more and more on regular donations, fund-raising events and the hard work of all those fine volunteers who support us. So a big thanks if you've been involved in any way.