Capoeira Classes in Petion-Ville Aim to Reduce Violence and Promote Peace

A Haitian association is organising capoeira classes — an Afro-Brazilian martial art combining elements of dance, acrobatics and music — in an effort to reduce community violence and promote social reintegration, according to The FRANCE 24 Observers. The initiative is run by the association "Capoeira and Social Education in Haiti" (CESOHA), which held a class in Petion-Ville, a suburb of Port-au-Prince, in 2026. The Observers team spoke to the association's founder, Rodney Jean Marc, who said the project's doors are open to everyone, "even children in armed gangs." The classes come as Haiti's security situation has worsened in recent years, with armed groups extending their control across parts of the capital region. According to France 24, the program positions capoeira as a vehicle for peace-building and youth engagement, offering an alternative path for young people exposed to or recruited by armed groups. Further details on the number of participants, funding and the program's full scope were not specified in the reports. The coverage was published by France 24's Observers program and syndicated by inkl.