For nearly a decade, capoeira has proven to be an essential element in the care of children by HEAL Africa. This practice has been integrated into internally displaced persons camps around the city of Goma, providing vital support to several hundred children affected by massive displacements resulting from the escalation of war in eastern DRC.

Displaced children face extreme vulnerability, exposed to various forms of gender-based violence, compromising their future. However, through capoeira, these children find a universal means of communication. Elias Patient, a capoeira monitor at HEAL Africa, emphasizes that this practice aims to help them consider each other as brothers despite their separating backgrounds.

Capoeira is not limited to simple physical exercise; it is based on values of inclusion and peace. It promotes social reintegration by encouraging mutual respect and living together. Children testify to the emotional and social benefits of this practice, highlighting its crucial role in the context of recurrent armed conflicts that have been prevalent in eastern DRC for several decades.

By integrating capoeira into the supervision of children, HEAL Africa provides a way for these children to overcome their traumas and reduce their psychological distress.