News from South Africa

Ruanda and Dourado from Abolicao Oxford Capoeira both spent 2 weeks out on the working holiday in South Africa. Here is there news about their trip.


Dourado: ' It really was a fantastic experience. After a very long (and sleepless for me) journey from the UK, we rolled directly up to the Capoeira hall in Hamburg just in time to catch the end of the group's daily training session. Still in the same clothes we'd spent the whole day and night travelling in we had our first roda with the kids of Abolicao Hamburg. As soon as the bateria and the singing started I realised how dedicated those kids are to Capoeira. I couldn't believe how much energy they put into the music and their game.

I had the pleasure of teaching several classes in Hamburg before Negao arrived and I was really amazed how well the kids were able to absorb just about anything I tried to teach them - even the youngsters around six years old.

The batizado event was a particularly special day. Traditionally in a batizado, the one receiving the belt gets a rasteira or some kind of trip from the higher ranked Capoeirista. In this batizado there was a real risk of it going the other way - we really had to watch ourselves. These kids train every day and put everything they've got into their games.
They really really love Capoeira.A couple of times during our stay we helped out the kids by travelling with them to do demos around the area. One of the things that made me realise what a difference Capoeira has made to Hamburg was seeing how much everyone in the neighbouring villages want it too. Everywhere we went people were asking us when we were going to start teaching in their village or town. They could see how much it has benefited the kids of Hamburg and now they all want their own kids doing it too.

Hamburg itself is a beautiful place and when we weren't helping out with the group, we did get a chance to have a look around and enjoy some relaxation time. We were looked after really well by the wonderful people working with the projects there (we even got our own pet dogs for the duration ).

Although an amazing and Beautiful place, Hamburg obviously has its problems which have been mentioned here already, but the work that we are supporting there really does seem to make a difference.Thanks to Baila and everyone that looked after us so well there.x


Ruanda:' First of all I'd like to say that there were plenty of reasons why we shouldn't have gone, but I won't go into those now, because I feel so priviledged to have gone. Like Dourado said, we stepped off the plane a day after we stepped on and straight into a roda: in fact the kids had actually already finished their class when we rolled into Hamburg but they didn't need asking twice if they wanted a roda! I was a tad anxious about meeting these kids, not quite sure what to expect of them (and not just of their capoeira ability: what if they didn't like me?!) But their welcome was so exuberant, I felt like they totally accepted these strange, tired-looking foreigners who had arrived at their doorstep!

Dourado's lessons went down a treat, the unofficial ones after the class had finished perhaps a tad more so but these kids assimilated so much - moves, music, and more besides so quickly! I had the pleasure of giving a quick demonstration of belly dancing, again I was a bit anxious thinking that the guys would feel left out when I was handing out the sparkly colourful hip scarves to only the girls but I was well informed afterwards that the guys very much enjoyed spectating the belly dancing The girls picked up the routine very quickly.

The Batizado was great fun - and incredibly exhausting: y'know these kids age between 6 and 19, and they've been training like EVERY day for the last three years and Negao took us aside before it started and said it's ok to give them one rasteirinha... Ha! Nevermind the vengativas and tesouras that they could dish back at us These kids were such an inspiration. Their dedication to capoeira is almost unbelievable - and right at the beginning I could spot a little bit of Mosqueteiro in all of them.

We also accompanied the kids to demos at neighbouring village schools and also to the children's festival auditions at which we were treated like VIPs by the organisers. We watched some traditional African dances performed by kids from all around the local area, and then 'our' kids performed their hearts out in a roda of ten. I was so touched when Zumbi asked if we would help with the bateria and singing. I had suggested that they enter the audition hall in single file berimbau first, followed by pandeiro and then everyone else with some kind of au - totally shocked to see folha secas, mortals, au sem maos, and martelo voi dors And almost as quickly as we had been accepted by the kids and the community, the two weeks were up and here we are.

I'd like to thank to Negao and Baila for organising the trip, and also thanks to Carol and Graeme and Jackie and Florence and Lulu and Dobby (aka Doggy ) for welcoming us so warmly and making it such a truly memorable trip.'

3rd Batizado at the Capoeira project in South Africa

Contra Mestre Luis Negao, Bailarina, Dourado and Ruanda from Abolicao Oxford have just come back from a working holiday in South Africa, where they organinsed the 3rd Capoeira Batizado with the local children in Hamburg. They have many stories to tell so watch this space, and by all accounts they had a really amazing time and experienced some fantastic capoeira.

Many thanks from the Abolicao Trust for your time and energy and for going such a long way to show the kids out there that we care about them here in Oxford and haven't forgotten them.

Axe.

Thank you Dr Ethel Frater

ABOLICAO OXFORD CAPOEIRA SAYS THANKS DR ETHEL BARROW


Recently a donation of R10 000 (£700) was made by Dr Ethel Barrow. The intention is to raise HIV/Aids awareness.

In order to get hold of some of this money every month the sports groups will have to do 2 things:
1. Hand out condoms to their team members!
2. Do something to educate themselves or others about HIV/Aids and other sexually transmitted diseases.

The meetings organised by the Abolicao Trust were received very well. Four local Hamburg football teams attended, along with the capoeira group and the boxing team. The sports teams were so delighted to have the time spent on them, and several people told us that the information they heard was among the first comprehensive information that they had received about safe sex.

Completely separately, a group of African charities have begun a scheme called "KICK AIDS OUT OF AFRICA", aimed at football groups. If our project is a success, we will attract funding from this program, and they have said they will happily incorporate capoeira into the scheme. The boxing could also be incorporated, but perhaps more aptly called "KNOCK AIDS OUT OF AFRICA".

To give us an idea of the remarkable woman who made the initial donation of R10 000 here is what was written by her son:

"Mrs Ethel Barrow, known locally and affectionately by her carers as Dr Barrow (her maiden name), celebrated her 102nd birthday during July with a quiet gathering of friends from the community, her son Charles and grandson George who flew from England for the occasion.

"Born in 1904, Dr Barrow lived in Cape Town from 1928 until 1969 practising primarily as a paediatrician (especially of new born babies). She met and married Paarl-born Dr Ken Frater when they were both fellows at the Mayo Clinic in the USA. After the birth of her sons Robert and Kenneth, she pioneered birth control clinics when she saw the plight of the people of the Cape Flats in the 1930s . In her work as a bacteriologist at the Cape Town Medical School she worked with early samples of penicillin sent to Cape Town by Fleming and during the war she helped at the Castle with medical screening of recruits for the forces. Among the people who visited the household in those years were Leonard Cripps (brother of Stafford Cripps MP) and Louis Leipoldt. It was a dinner table with a broad spectrum of guests from all walks of life.

"Dr Ken Frater died suddenly in September 1950 leaving her to run a household with 3 sons (Charles was born in 1941). She took up her profession again and became the Medical Superintendent of Saint Monica's Home, a maternity hospital on the slopes of Signal Hill. After retirement she returned to her birthplace, England. Unable to cope without some active interest she worked at the Linnean Society Library sorting and cleaning books. She wrote a paper on the Tea Collection, a library within of books documenting the cultivation and processing of tea. For this she was granted a Fellowship of the Linnean Society an honour of which she was very proud. Her grandson George is doing a summer job at the same library . "Until she was 96 she continued to read her British Medical Journal from cover to cover and, although it was a struggle, lived on her own. The loss of her son Kenneth in June 2000 was a major blow. Since February 2003 she has been living in Glentana cared for by people in the community."

Her son adds: "I hope sincerely that the money is put to good use and in the spirit of the old lady who worked so hard for a multiracial community in the Cape", and we really feel that this money is going to go a long way. Currently an African charity is trying to get a big scheme of the ground, entitled "kick Aids out of Africa", targeted at footballers, and if it is a success then our scheme will receive long term funding




Local football Team involved in the HIV awareness sports program.

Batizado in Brazil

Better late than never...

Just wanted to post a quick word about the Batizado (grading ceremony/celebration) for the group at the projecto in Brazil.

The 1st Batizado for the capoeira kids group (Criancas Raizes do Abaete - Abolicao Oxford) was an amzing event and one of the most vibrant displays of capoeira and community in general I've had the pleasure of being part of! There was a great turn out from kids, supportive family members, respected local teachers and mestres, and the usual mix of enthusiastic capoeiristas (all of us from the UK in this last catergory). It had tipped it down the night before the Batizado, but Negao and Prof Narcisso had made sure there was a gazebo type structure up in the outside area so there was no fear of 'rain stopping play'.

The event opened with the usual thanks to all involved and introductions of all the respected mestres and teachers who had given up their Sunday to attend. There was a lovely selection of old and young faces in the line up, and a fantastic display of capoeira prowess from the visiting mestres. Then the batizado began in earnest and we were entertained, amazed and delighted as the children from the projecto played their hearts out to show their skills and receive their cordas (capoeira belts). I was overwhelmed again by how good they are, how naturally they make the movements and how fearless some of them seemed in playing the mestres.

There were a small group of more advanced students who were mostly a little older (10-14) and showed real commitment to training, to the group and to capoeira, and these 5 or 6 boys played for their second level (green/yellow) belts. They are a determined bunch and for them this event was an opportunity for them each to shine - which they all did. There were some tears along the way as the intensity of the situation and the pressure they put on themselves to perform 110% was all a bit much, but the teachers at the projecto dealt with it all real grace and no child went away feeling they had done anything less than brilliantly!

I don't think I'll forget that batizado ever. It was such a privilege to be there and to be a part of that day and to enjoy seeing how far the group has come since the projecto started.

Others have taken better photos, but this one is just a little insight into that day:

Abolicao Oxford participate in the Elder Stubbs Festival

Abolicao Oxford capoeira students were busy last Saturday participating in the Elder Stubbs festival in Rymers Lane. Many thanks to Dourado and Ruanda for organising the stall and the publicity on behalf of the Abolicao Trust. There was a great roda, led by Contra-Mestre Luis Negao, despite the threatening rain and a collection box passed round for members of the public to contribute to the Trust.
Many thanks to the joint efforts of everyone involved.

Image created for the 1st Batizado at CRA

This is the image created by India for the T shirts for the kids at the 1st Batizado at the project 'CRA' in Brazil. The kids really loved it as it used images taken from photos from the working holiday at CRA. Thanks alot India. 

Thank you India

Many thanks to India (on the left) for working hard to produce the graphics for the Batizado at CRA in Brazil, the Batizado in Hamburg in October and the Abolicao Oxford Batizado in Oxford in November.

India has recently relocated to California but is still actively helping the Abolicao Trust with design and grapics.

Thanks alot. 

The Project at Hamburg

The project in Hamburg, South Africa, supported by Abolicao Oxford aims at providing a positive focus for the young people involved.
This quote by Falcao, who is now in CRA in Brazil, shows how vulnerable the young people are when they have nothing to do apart from hanging around and getting into trouble.
It also stresses how effective Capoeira is in building bridges in communities.

Axe! 

Lots of good news from the CRA project in Brazil

For the two South African boys who arrived from the project in Hamburg, Salvador must be a very big change!

Tigre and Falcao flew to Salvador on Monday morning to spend 2 weeks training with Contra Mestre Luis Negao and 16 students from Abolicao Oxford. The first Batizado at CRA will be this Saturday and will be a day long event to reward the progress of the children who train at the project and for them to gain their first Capoeira corda (belt).

More news to come............................. 

CRA Project in Brazil is about to have its first Batizado!

Last week Contra Mestre Luis Negao flew out to Salvador, Brazil to receive 15 students from Abolicao Oxford and Abolicao Synergy for a two week Capoeira holiday. The trip includes workshops at the Project CRA in Abaete, supported by the Abolicao Trust. The students were joined by two South African capoeiristas, Falcao and Tigre, who actively participate and lead the classes at the capoeira project in Hamburg. The two students will stay with the group for two weeks whilst participating in the 1st Batizado at CRA this Saturday.

Thanks Brookes!

Thanks very much to Brookes University Sports Department for helping to support the Abolicao Trust Kids class. These classes are held every Saturday morning at Brookes University in the new sports hall from 10-11am.

The Abolicao Trust appreciates the Sports Deparment's help in providing the use of the dojo for the kids class, as all the money raised goes to the Abolicao Trust.

£140 raised by Abolicao Oxford Capoeira

Last weekend a large group of Abolicao Oxford capoeiristas were busy fundraising by providing entertainment at the 2006 Trailwalker event - an annual fundraising event organised by Oxfam.
Lots of people took part and braved the cold (apparantly it was freezing) and raised £140 for the ABOLICAO TRUST.

Thanks alot!

The Hebridean Challenge

Just to let everyone know, Alex, one of Dourado's Banbury students recently completed the Hebridean Challenge and has yet to confirm his sponsorship total, but reckons he's made over £200 also for Abolicao Trust.

THANK YOU SO MUCH ALEX !

Cowley Road 'Eat the World' festival

Abolicao Oxford were recently at the Cowley Road 'Eat the World' festival. It was a beautiful day for the event and the many capoeiristas playing under the hot sun to publicise not only the classes held in Oxford, Banbury and London but also giving out leaflets about the Abolicao Trust. We drew a huge crowd with lots of people asking for more information about both the Capoeira group and the Trust.

Thanks to everyone who took part to make this a hugely enjoyable event.

Abolicao at 2006 Oxfam Trailwalker event Friday 14th July

For those not fortunate enough to be going on the Brazil trip this year, read below for details on what looks to be Abolicao's largest fundraising event of the summer...We've been invited to participate in providing entertainment at the 2006 Trailwalker event - which is an annual fundraising event organised by Oxfam.

It consists of walking 100 km in under 30 hours in teams of 4 from Petersfield to Brighton. Crazy eh? The 2000 or so people taking part in this mammoth walk leave early on a Saturday morning and keep on walking day and night.... and they need a good energy boost the night before leaving, and that's where we come in...They have a big BBQ and camp out in tents on the Friday night and we will be there to provide some eye popping entertainment!

It will be a great event for publicising Grupo Abolicao and the Trust and raising lots of much needed money for our projects in Brazil and South Africa.

More news to follow.......

Money raised at The Mill in Banbury

A big well done to all Abolicao Oxford capoeiristas who were involved in a recent Youth Dance Showcase Event held at The Mill Arts Centre in Banbury.

Abolição Oxford Capoeira raised over £200 for the Abolição Trust with two performance rodas, a short film about the capoeira projects in Hamburg and Bahia, and a free capoeira workshop led by Dourado.

Well done Baila! Falcao and Tigre are coming to Brazil for the first Batizado at CRA

A huge well done to Baila for securing a donation of £2,500 for the ABOLICAO TRUST. I know that Baila has worked very hard to make this trip of a life-time possible for two of the boys from the project in South Africa.Both Falcao and Tigre will be flying out to meet Contre-Mestre Luis Negao and 12 other Abolicao students from Oxford and Pato's group in London. They will stay for two weeks and during that time be based, with the rest of the students, in Negao's house in Salvador. They will gain a huge amount of experience from this opportunity. This is the first time that they will have left South Africa and will benefit from learning alot more about Brazilian Capoeira in Brazil.They will get the opportunity to meet famous teachers like Mestre Itapua, Mestre Olva, Mestre Bamba and Mestre Xareu. When they return to South Africa they will be able to pass on their experience to the other students in Hamburg and continue to lead the Capoeira classes there.This Capoeira holiday will also include the first Batizado at the project in Abaete called 'criancas raizes do abaete' CRA. The fact that the boys are coming really brings together the three cultures of Africa, Brazil and Britain. In the past it was the slave trade that linked these countries and this is important to remember as Capoeira was born out of slavery and the fight for freedom. Now we are trying to link these cultures in a positive way through exchange and a first hand cultural experience.We are very excited about this trip and so pleased that Baila will also be coming to meet the boys.Much Axe!

Well done Baila! Two South African boys are coming to the First Batizado at the Project CRA

A huge well done to Baila for securing a donation of £2,500 for the ABOLICAO TRUST. I know that Baila has worked very hard to make this trip of a life-time possible for two of the boys from the project in South Africa.

Both Falcao and Tigre will be flying out to meet Contre-Mestre Luis Negao and 12 other Abolicao students from Oxford and Pato's group in London. They will stay for two weeks and during that time be based, with the rest of the students, in Negao's house in Salvador. They will gain a huge amount of experience from this opportunity. This is the first time that they will have left South Africa and will benefit from learning alot more about Brazilian Capoeira in Brazil.
They will get the opportunity to meet famous teachers like Mestre Itapua, Mestre Olva, Mestre Bamba and Mestre Xareu. When they return to South Africa they will be able to pass on their experience to the other students in Hamburg and continue to lead the Capoeira classes there.

This Capoeira holiday will also include the first Batizado at the project in Abaete called 'criancas raizes do abaete' CRA. The fact that the boys are coming really brings together the three cultures of Africa, Brazil and Britain. In the past it was the slave trade that linked these countries and this is important to remember as Capoeira was born out of slavery and the fight for freedom. Now we are trying to link these cultures in a positive way through exchange and a first hand cultural experience.

We are very excited about this trip and so pleased that Baila will also be coming to meet the boys.

Much Axe!

WELL DONE FUN RUNNERS

The Sunday saw many of the members of ABOLICAO OXFORD CAPOEIRA running in the Oxford Town and Gown race 10k race. We are enormously grateful for their participation and commitment to raising money for the ABOLICAO TRUST. We calculate that approximately £800 has been raised. Thank you all so much for your effort and dedication and a special extra thanks to Tuberao for his help in motivating the runners who took part.