Project Bantu: refugee youth finding their way through Capoeira Angola

At lunchtime at CHS, the Sudanese kids gathered in a classroom with Master Roxinho and Mrs. Pickering. The Capoeira class began with a power point presentation made by Evelyn Agripa and Charity Bosco. Both have been involved with Project Bantu for 4 years. The presentation was about the Capoeira Angola conference they attended in New Zealand.

Evelyn Agripa,16, from Sudan, was born in Kakuma Refugee Camp. She has excelled at Capoeira and has really identified with Afro-Brazilian culture. “I did not know it was going to be so good, I just started as a student then it got better and better, ” says Evelyn. “My traveling recently was something very good and I could never imagine to be traveling because of Capoeira Angola.”

Charity Bosco, 14, is Sudanese and was also born in Kakuma Refugee Camp. She joined Project Bantu when she was in year seven. “There was this new dance that came up called Capoeira Angola, then everyone started joining in.” She has become very close to the other students and feels a real sense of camaraderie.

The concept behind Project Bantu is to help these teenagers continue to connect with their cultural identity, which “is really important for kids who have so much dislocation and upheaval and are now in living in a different country, says Mrs Pickering.

Dr Coello believes that “for the kids the program is very successful. It gives them a sense of connection, it gives them self discipline, the ability to start controlling themselves, confidence and body control and the ability to perceive themselves in a different way.”

When the students are playing in the “game,” they have to make sure that they don’t kick the other person in the head; the other person has to trust them. “It’s a two way concept of developing trust and developing responsibility. Those concepts have been really damaged by the experiences of many refugees,” suggests Mrs Pickering.

The students come from multicultural backgrounds:  African, Asian and Middle Eastern upbringings. According to Dr Coello some came with prejudice as a result of the ignorance that emanates from their parents and communities. Project Bantu “has broken down these myths. The kids get to know each other. When they play “the game” they must embrace their opponents.

Main Obstacles with Running Project Bantu:

Chiara Ridolfi wears many hats at project Bantu. She is a social worker, a grant writer and she deals with the administration and organises events.

The biggest obstacle that Project Bantu faces is lack of funding. Project Bantu applies for all sorts of funding including private and public, however, the private sphere will not support an organisation that is not a charity. Currently, Project Bantu is an incorporated association, but they are in the process of applying to be recognized as a charity.

Project Bantu has applied for funding from the Federal Government, NSW Government and local councils. Only 3 out of 55 applications have been successful. The council applications were the successful ones. Auburn Council funded two projects and Holroyd City Council supported one project.

Chiara has found it difficult to explain to possible donors what Capoeira Angola is and the goals and outcomes of the project. As Chiara notes, “the medical one to one format is considered more important than group work.”