Capoeira as a tool for peace

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is faced with a protracted crisis. It is marked by conflicts and natural disasters causing massive population movements and leading to serious violations of fundamental rights. This includes children’s rights, gender-based violence, and the lack of access to education and the justice system. The initiative led by Gingando Pela Paz is using the innovative approach of social capoeira to support activities to attend to the needs of these people affected by armed violence and other crises. The objective is to promote dialogue and peace in the DRC.
 

• Training in social capoeira, music initiation, movie sessions;
• Physical exercise for cognitive development, spatial awareness, games and teamwork;
• Training for young people so that they can become social educators;
• Dialogue round tables for girls on issues such as reproductive and sexual health, women’s empowerment, breast cancer and violence against women;
• Mixed dialogue round tables (girls and boys) on issues such as human rights, the mediation of interpersonal conflicts, the protection of the environment, participatory citizenship and first aid.

• 168 children and young people have access to sport through social capoeira activities organized by young people in three spaces in Goma. They include street children, girl survivors of sexual violence and children demobilized from armed groups;
• 25 girls participate in training to develop and strengthen skills in psychosocial care for children and young people, the promotion of community dialogue and peacebuilding;
• The awareness-raising activities in communities reduce the stigmatization of the participants over women taking part in sport and their role in peacebuilding;
• The capoeira presentations in schools and camps for displaced people contribute to promoting access to sport for young people, especially girls;
• With the start of the projects financed by Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Gingando has been able to achieve parity with the six assistants and six staff members of the coordination.