Jamaican Children Learn Brazilian Capoeira as a Dance for Peace.

© UNICEF Jamaica, 2005; Hoad

Boys from the Mountain View community practice their capoeira skills at the Eastern Peace Centre.

The Xchange movement, true to its name, has brought Brazilian Capoeira, to a number of Jamaican children in some troubled inner city communities in an attempt to provide an outlet for them to channeling their energy positively and to express themselves in dance and martial arts.   The Xchange anti-violence being supported by UNICEF in violence-prone communities across Jamaica is aimed at using sports and culture to encourage young people to choose love over hate, peace over war and life over death.
Dennis Eckart, a Capoeira teacher, is now working with a small group of young people in the Mountain View area. He was introduced to Xchanger Orlando Hamilton from the Mountain View community through UNICEF Jamaica and has organized classes twice weekly for about 10 young boys between the ages of  9 and 15 years.
Mr. Eckart, who performs under the name “Simpson”, has been working in various communities in Kingston and St. Andrew providing Capoeira training. The Brazilian Embassy has provided support to the Capoeira movement in Jamaica and two Brazilian instructors are to come to the island in January to work in these communities.

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