South African capoeiristas visit UK for 13th annual Batizado!

 Now well into the new year we thought it was high time to reflect on the Trust's activities of 2013! The culmination of which was the visit from three capoieristas from the South African groups to the UK for the annual Batizado (capoeira grading ceremony and workshops) in December. Oxford and London capoeiristas welcomed the three friends from South Africa: Beija Flor, from Hamburg and Zumbi (from Hamburg but now in Cape Town) who brought new student Mandibula from the Abolicao Cape Town group he has developed and led while at university there.

 The Batizado weekend kicked off with a high-energy workshop given by Mestre Biscuim at Abolicao Synergy in London. The synergy crew then headed up to join the rest of Abolicao in Oxford for a great acrobatic workshop with Mestre Israel. On Saturday morning we had a workshop by Professor Cobra where we learnt some unusual new take-downs, followed by the Troca de Cordas. Saturday nights’ party went off in fine Brazilian style, with a forro class beforehand, and an extra special ‘zumba-Bahia’ lesson from CM Negao! More capoeira followed on Sunday for everyone to polish off their skills.

 However – no rest for our visiting capoeiristas, as they had another two weeks of training, visiting and learning ahead.
Zumbi and Mandibula spent time with both groups and visited several other capoeira clubs, culminating in a workshop given by Zumbi to show the London group some new moves. A great learning experience, the wealth of which they will share with their capoeira community back home.

This exchange was a great example of what the Abolicao trust can inspire – Zumbi has moved to Cape Town to study, and has now set up a successful new Abolicao group. Zumbi and Mandibula were successful in raising their travel funds independently, setting up a givengain website and petitioning for funds from their university. 

The Trust also supported with Batizado and living expenses while in the UK, and organised accommodation and activities during their stay. 

Zumbi says:
"Great! Three capoeiristas from South Africa attending UK Batizado. Best hospitality and support ever we've got from members of Abolicao. Relations between Abolicao Trust and Cape Peninsula University of Technology. We couldn't attend the funeral of our icon leader Nelson Mandela but Abolicao was there to comfort us."

A huge thanks goes to the many people in the UK groups who took the time to welcome the visiting capoeiristas and make them feel at home. What a wonderful international Capoeira community! 

Having fun raising funds!

Last weekend we held a fantastic party in London, raising £580 for the Abolicao Trust!

Group members from Abolicao Synergy did all the organising and preparation, which included putting up lots of colourful carnival decorations and a piñata full of goodies, as well as applying beautiful glitter and jewels to faces throughout the night! Highlight of the evening was the chance to win some incredible raffle prizes, kindly donated by London and Oxford capoeiristas, including: a silver ring, a therapeutic body massage, a samba lesson and a one day ‘gardening experience and tuition’!

And of course, no capoeira party would be complete without squeezing in an impromptu roda - filling the room with good vibes and plenty of axe!

A big thanks goes to everyone who helped out, and came and partied with us, especially Anna (Princesa) from Abolicao Synergy, who put lots of time and effort into organising.

Most importantly we raised an incredible £580 to support students at the Hamburg project in South Africa.

So THANK YOU all, and if anyone else has any fundraising ideas, please get in touch on info@abolicao-trust.org.uk - we would love to hear from you!

BOA!

2013 Off to a busy start...

2013 has gotten off to a busy start for The Abolicao Trust! What have we been doing…?

Brazilian Beats

Our springtime fundraising drive was kicked off with a BRAZILIAN PARTY on 9^th March. Hosted by our good friend Fernando’s Café in the centre of Oxford the party drew in people from far and wide to enjoy an evening of Brazilian music DJ’d by Contra Mestre Luis Negao and with a special guest appearance from Mestre Biscuim for samba. A fun evening was had by all and over £250 was raised for the South Africa Batizado. Big thanks to Esquiva from Abolicao Oxford for the help in organising.

Abolicao South Africa V Batizado, Troca de Cordas

Easter this year was all about Capoeira! Contra Mestre Luis Negao visited Hamburg for 10 days with a select group of 5 UK Capoieristras, 3 returning to visit their capoeira brothers and sisters and 2 just starting their capoeira journey.

As always the visiting group were warmly welcomed by the people of Hamburg. Throughout our trip this year the growing maturity of the group was shining through, with a welcoming braii, an awards ceremony and for the first time guests from Cape Town making Hamburg the place to be in capoeira in South Africa!

As last year, CM Negao visited Lovers Twist with 2 UK capoeiritras to see the good work Tigre has been doing at the after school project run by The Keiskamma Trust, half an hour from Hamburg. The kids there showed immense concentration, with kicks flying high. Capoeira just keeps expanding in Hamburg, with hopes this year to establish another class in Mgababa, another after school project nearly an hour from Hamburg.

10 days was not enough to fit in everything, we had a very busy time, enjoying rodas on the beach, daily workshops developing strength, flexibility and of course, new moves. With a smaller group we were able to spend lots of time getting to know each other and sharing capoeira skills.

The highlight of the trip was of course, the Batizado, held over a very rainy weekend, this did not deter the group! Children were picked up from their homes which are mostly a half hour muddy walk away. We were very pleased for the Lovers Twist group to join us on Batizado day for a second year, even though the bus got stuck in the mud. And a first for this year, 2 students of Zumbi’s from the Cape Town group came to join in and were welcomed into the group with their green belts.

The Batizado was followed by an awards ceremony, entirely organized by the group. At the beginning of the day we wondered how this would go with no PA equipment, but as if by magic, through all the rain after a very busy Batizado day we arrived in the evening to find a sound system and microphone. Awards were handed out for the most motivated, best at music, best newcomer... Awards were interspersed with music and dancing from the community and Kieskamma music academy. It was an evening showing the true spirit of Hamburg.

All in all the visit was very successful, if only a little short. We are very pleased to see the group developing their organization and spreading further. The quote of the trip for this year has to be, from Tigre, the Hamburg instructor,

“We must be pioneers of our future, not prisoners of our past”

I think, that says it all, and can apply to us all. Boa!

Greetings Blogoeiras!!

Here's a little bit of internal Abolicao Trust news to keep all our followers in the loop!

**********************NEW TRUSTEES

Before introducing the new faces, I'd like to thank Ben Johnson for all of the work he has put in over several years as an outgoing Trustee. He has helped on projects from international exchanges, to Brazil trips and media, as well as all the regular goings ons of the Trust - THANK YOU!!!!!

We are very excited to reveal our new, fresh faced and enthused Abolicao Trust Team...

May Fada Atkinson

Bella Viola Obi

Kat Morena Carpenter

                                       WELCOME!!!

Continuing existing Trustees...

Tom Mosketeiro Georgiou

      




 (picture to follow!)          (picture to follow!)
Suzetta Onca Youngs     Linda Fiu Llonqvist





These are indeed exciting times, and with a bit more (wo)man power onboard, we are hoping to push the Abolicao Trust into new and exciting organisational levels


**********************HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

Best of all, it is now easy to get involved. Our current vision is for a fundraising drive into the Spring of 2013, which will be helping towards putting on an exciting trip and Batizado (grading ceremony) for the project in South Africa!!

Contact any of the trustees directly, email info@abolicao-trust.org, or add your commments to this blog if you want help getting your fundraising ideas off the ground!!!
                   

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 

 

BRAZIL TRIP 2011!

August 8th - 22nd. More info here...

December newsletter here!

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.

South Africa report from Tom, who visited the Hamburg group recently...

Molweni!!

Greetings from South Africa!! Whilst the World Cup dominated the headlines this summer past, plenty of other exciting events were happening in South Africa…

The Abolicao Trust has been supporting the capoeira group in Hamburg, Eastern Cape since 2003. Now the group, entering its 8^th year, is moving from strength to strength. Tom Georgiou, one of the group founders and Abolicao Trust trustee, travelled with instruments, capoeira kit, CD player, and a goat skin to spend a month lending his support and seeing how the group has developed.

The group has matured over the years, and the ‘old skool’ of original students have now matured into young adults. As the cycle turns, these students have become teachers, and there is a fine new crop of youngsters filled with enthusiasm who come to train.

The Abolicao Trust has paid a salary to the group leader, Msindisi Mva (Tigre), for the past year. These costs have been shared with local NGO, The Keiskamma Trust (www.keiskamma.org) who support the development of the community with arts, health, HIV/AIDS awareness, after-school education, music and heritage projects.

Tigre has taught daily classes from 4-6pm, and due to extra demand has started teaching early classes for adult beginners at 8-9am twice weekly, and also teaches up to 3 times a week in local primary schools. The stipend salary we have been able to provide has enabled him to save for his family and given him some security in an area of 95% unemployment.

The group were invited to perform at the Gramhamstown Arts Festival, the largest celebration of creative arts in South Africa. They featured in the festival newpaper, and were very well received by excited audiences. Other performances, at a number of local festivals and venues have made the group well known in their local district. Having an outlet to showcase the progress of the group has helped fuel their enthusiasm, and generated requests for them to teach capoeira in various different localities. While logistical difficulties limit their capacity to take on new projects in different areas, this is one of the directions in which the group is looking to expand.

Other projects we hope to embark on in the near future include -

• An exchange visit to Cape Town – one of the Hamburg capoeiristas now studying at university has begun a new group, associated with the student union

• A new regular class – in a recently opened youth centre 16km away in a village called Lovers Twist

• Youth education schemes – to involve the capoeira group in educational initiatives relating to alcohol, drugs, HIV and healthy living

• More kit for the kids – having sourced an appropriate fabric for capoeira trousers (£1.50 per metre), women from the arts project can make trousers of all sizes

• A passport and trip to England – for Tigre, to develop his leadership and IT skills and train with the Oxford and London groups