In 2013, Amer, one of Capoeira4Refugees first ever trainers, found himself in north of Syria. Difficult circumstances lead him to the city of Al-Raqqa. Upon his arrival in Al-Raqqa, Amer was taken in by and helped by the locals. Whilst he was there he noticed there was nothing for the children to do. The war meant that they had no school to attend, they were also afraid to leave home. This gave Amer the idea to contact Tarek (the founder of Capoeira4Refugees) and the project in Al-Raqqa was born.

The difficulty of searching for a safe space to hold the capoeira was not easy. However, after talking to the locals they decided to use the school basement. After receiving permission, the basement was cleaned out and made safe for the children. In June 2013, Amer, along with the help of local volunteers started classes. More than 100 children attended the first class.

As word spread the classes became increasing busy, the classes were spilt into two ages groups 5-12 and 12-18 years old. With help for the local volunteers, capoeira in the school basement became a local hub - the heart of the community.

By bringing music, laughter and play into the lives of the children of Al-Raqqa, capoeira creates a safe space and an outlet for children who are going through the traumatic experience of growing up in a conflict zone.

"It is so hard to talk about psychological problems among the children as a result of the war and all the violence they have witnessed. It was difficult for me to know what they were thinking or what was on their minds. But through capoeira, especially Roda, I could sense who was sad or who was angry, who liked each other and who disliked each other. You can see everything in the Roda.

"Through the Al-Raqqa project, the children changed in many ways, they got to know a new way of life." After Amer left the project continued even after Daesh had taken over full control of the city. Local trainers who had been trained by Amer, kept the spirit of the project alive - even when it was forced out of the public sphere and into the private. Despite the dangers of playing capoeira during Daesh's occupation of Al-Raqqa, many of the children continued to train and play the game behind closed doors, even alone. It gave them a sense of liberation and purpose in the face of the circumstances around them. In a conversation with Amer, who now stays in Turkey, he told us that he had heard from some of the children who he had worked with back in 2013 - they are now trainers themselves.

Currently, the Al-Raqqa project is still being run by local volunteers on the ground and they need as much support as they can get. The donations will go directly towards helping the project continue and will be put towards the support, equipment, facility costs, training and whatever the local trainers at Al-Raqqa need to maintain the project.

*All donations go directly to the project*