Capoeira Team Luxembourg asbl

The project

After the complicated period of the pandemic, we realized that it was necessary to develop a project to mitigate the psychological and physical effects caused by the lockdown. The desire to resume a healthy social life was the trigger for launching this initiative.

As part of this project, we offered capoeira classes, Afro-Brazilian dance, musicality, as well as numerous workshops and cultural and sports events to positively contribute to social development, mainly for young people aged 4 to 19, and to alleviate the psychosomatic damage related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

By offering capoeira as the main activity, we managed to get young people out of their homes and avoid social isolation. Using sport as a tool for preventive therapy allowed us to address issues of depression, stress reduction, anxiety, and maintaining mental health.

We also observed that engaging in sports activities strengthened family cohesion and social integration. Indeed, our proposed activities allowed for social reconnection between families, alleviating the emotional exhaustion caused by the pandemic.

Implementation

Working on the emotional aspect of these young people by trying to boost their self-esteem was a significant challenge but also a learning experience. As our goal was not only to strengthen their physical condition but especially their emotional health, we had to adapt our teaching method to prepare the young people for the European capoeira games. To achieve this, we offered outdoor classes, youth discussion meetings, group cultural visits, and small competition events to build self-confidence.

We also found that offering free and open workshops required significant communication efforts (flyers, social media advertising, etc.), which did not necessarily reflect in the number of participants. By conducting classes directly in schools and high schools, we reached many more participants, and the impact was better. Therefore, if we were to redo the same project, we would seek more contact with schools or high schools.

Objective

Everyone should have the opportunity to access cultural and sports activities. By offering family activities and promoting diversity and social inclusion, we can provide the necessary support and create an environment conducive to the interpersonal development of these young people.

We live in a society, and it is necessary to socialize and integrate. We need this social dynamic to live. Capoeira is a tool that allows us to work on several aspects of individual development. Our multidisciplinary activities promote the integration and socialization of young people and get them out of the isolation characteristic of adolescence. Our goal is to create a welcoming and family-friendly environment where people feel accepted and comfortable, thus contributing to the promotion of mental health, rather than just teaching capoeira.

All these different aspects are linked to the practice of sport, with a mind and body aligned for a healthy life. The results of our projects encourage me to continue working and developing projects aimed at people’s well-being through social inclusion, learning, and culture.