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

Thanks...

Cocktails drank, money raised and a good time had by all. Big thanks to those who came along. We've been offered a monthly slot in 2010, so watch this space!

BRAZILIAN PARTY IN OXFORD

Beat the winter blues with some warming Brazilian vibes (and cocktails...) and help raise money for the Abolicao Trust, working with children in Brazil and South Africa.

CHEAPEST COCKTAILS IN OXFORD!
CAIPIROSKAS - £5 FOR 2

6 - 11pm - Cafe Bar Brasil, Friar's Entry, Oxford

DIRECTIONS

All proceeds from the cocktail/beer offers go directly to the Trust.

Download flyer here

RUPI, TEIMOSO AND ABELHA have arrived safely!

It's so great to have them here. Safely wrapped in several layers, they braved central Oxford during their first day here. In the evening, we all bundled into cars and went bowling. In addition to capoeira, football and dancing, they now seem to be better than us at this too...

Great news for this November...

The Trust are bringing three people from the Brazil project to England next month to take part in the 10th Abolicao Oxford Batizado. Professor Rupi - our teacher in Salvador - will arrive with two students, Teimoso and Abelia. This is the first time they've travelled and we're delighted to have them. Wooly hats and big smiles await their arrival...

Check out the clip from this year's Batizado at the project in Brazil. Abelia is the girl playing the first game.

The Trust are in Brazil...

Abolicao Trust - Salvador, July 09 from The Abolicao Trust on Vimeo.

Ola from Salvador...

The Trust are currently hosting a Brazil trip for UK capoeira students. We've been training with all of the wonderful kids at the project in Abaete and getting ready for the fourth Batizado, the annual celebration and changing of belts. We've also joined in the with the percussion and Afro-dance workshops and the lady in the ice-cream shop knows us all pretty well...

Check out some of the pics and watch this space for videos very soon.

BRAZILIAN SUMMER PARTY

Saturday 20th June, 4 - 12pm
The Africa Centre
38 Kings Street, Covent Garden

• SAMBA/PERCUSSION WORKSHOPS
  
• CAPOEIRA DEMO
  
• LIVE MUSIC/DJs
  

£9 on the door
Free cocktail and workshop with every ticket!

ALL PROCEEDS TO THE ABOLICAO TRUST

More info: events@abolicao-trust.org or 07708 225850

Dragon School show




Abolicao Capoeira were invited to perform at the Dragon School in Oxford on May 15th. Negao has been leading workshops for pupils and the school recently awarded funding towards our exchange event planned for November. Pupils led a presentation on the history of Capoeira to an audience of 250 and joined us on stage for a roda and samba!

Big thanks to everyone who turned up to perform (Maculele grass skirts with no prior warning) and to the school for having us.

CAPOEIRA TRIP TO BRAZIL THIS JULY



Contra-Mestre Negao and the Trust are hosting an amazing trip to Salvador, Brazil this Summer.

If you're into Capoeira, regardless of your level, this is a great chance to visit and train in the place where it all began. There will be regular classes, rodas, music/percussion workshops and close involvement with our Capoeira project for the incredible kids of Abaeté.

If this doesn't tempt you, maybe the ocean, fresh fish, beachside hotel, samba rhythms and capirinhas will.

The trip runs from 13th - 27th July and there are still places going. Download full details here

Please get in touch if you have any questions -

braziltrip@abolicao-trust.org

Latest images from South African exchange




Click image above or here...

New images by Jonathan Hyams

CDs + DVDs



Big thanks to Tom/Dourado, who donated DVDs of last year's Abolicao Batizado for sale at this year's event. Another big thanks to Tom/Mosqueteiro and Jonny/Xaruto who produced the CD of music from the South African group, also on sale. We made £100. We sold out, but get in touch if you're interested in the next batch.

SAMBA BONANZA

Abolicao Oxford Capoeira are performing with Sol Samba at St Gregory's School, Oxford on Dec 5th. 'Samba Bonanza' kicks off at 7pm and a share of the proceeds will be donated to The Abolicao Trust.

Click here for more info...

South Africa – Brazil exchanges, by Linda

How many 18-year-olds would be excited about travelling to Brazil? Most if not all! Now, think about 18-year-olds who live in a small town in South Africa and have been training capoeira for five years without meeting more than one Brazilian capoeira master: imagine what a big event Brazil would be for them!

In the summers 2007 and 2008, the Abolicao Trust made it possible for four promising capoeiristas from Hamburg to spend two weeks in Brazil, training, travelling and learning. The Hamburg project has been running since 2003, with the students making stupendous progress. With very little input from outside, they run classes and teach themselves the acrobatics, game and music of capoeira. The chance to train intensively with lots of top masters, see capoeira “in its element”, see the range of styles and the depth of the capoeria culture are invaluable experiences.



In 2008, Wanga ‘Besouro’ Afrika and Axola ‘Lampiao’ Avril had their chance to do the first part of the Brazil exchange thanks to a grant from the Prince Claus Fund, a Dutch foundation that supports culture and development. The boys took full advantage of the capoeira teaching, taking the culture shock in stride, spending time with the younger kids at the Crianzas Raizes do Abaete project in Salvador, Brazil.

After this, the second exchange took place: 17-year-old Jair ‘Teimoso’ Santos and teacher Valmir ‘Rupi’ dos Santos travelled to Hamburg on the 6th August. Rupi is the full-time childrens' capoeira teacher at the Crianzas Raizes do Abaete project. Teimoso, is the oldest student in the Project: one of the best capoeiristas, a model student in school, and a good ambassador for the Project. Teimoso was the first of his family to travel abroad, and they let us know that they took the trip very seriously. Rupi and Teimoso arrived to inject some Brazilian capoeira style into the annual grading ceremony, the Batizado – despite the Portuguese-Xhosa language barrier. Visiting Africa is a rare opportunity for these capoeiristas, but it is also invigorating to see the spread of capoeira worldwide.

We hope that the exchange has done something to spread links between capoeiristas worldwide – and to keep repeating the exercise!

* Watch this space for images and video soon*