My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
Yes
I am 18 years of age or above, by the application deadline.
Yes
My organisation is a registered UK entity and has a London-based address.
Yes
My organisation is a non-profit (e.g. school, university, or local authority) — not a for-profit, which can only join as a partner.
Yes
If there is a for-profit organisation as a partner in my initiative, they work on a cost-recovery basis only.
Yes
My solution is implemented at scale, or if not, I have a clear business plan, a minimum viable solution (prototype, pilot, or proof of concept), evidence of access to a lease for the space you are leveraging, and evidence of work or impact in London within your coalition.
Yes
I am aware that, if I am submitting more than one application to a Challenge run by Ashoka and Go! London, only one of them is able to progress through the stages.
Yes
Are you an employee (and their children and grandchildren) of Ashoka or any of its respective affiliates and participating advertising and promotion agencies?
No
I have read and accepted the Challenge Terms & Conditions.
Yes
First Name
Laura
Last Name
Ayuso
Pronouns
She/Her
Email address
I would like to receive notifications and updates about Go London!, Ashoka, Ashoka Changemakers, and other Ashoka opportunities.
1
Are you an Ashoka Fellow?
No
Are you applying from an organization founded by an Ashoka Fellow?
No
If you are applying from an organization founded by an Ashoka Fellow, please specify the name and organisation of the fellow below.
Lead Organisation Name
Maculele UK- Afro-Brazilian Arts & Cultural Exchange Institute
Year that you started/ registered your organisation
2012
Initiative Title
Fighting Inequality
My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
1
Website URL(s) or Social Media Handles
www.abacei.org
Initiative Stage
Established (You’ve successfully passed early phases and have a plan for the future. Your venture has been in existence for 6 years and above)
Sectors/Themes: What topic does your project most directly relate to?
Children & Youth
Initiative Summary: Describe your initiative in one sentence
Social inclusion and educational programme with the martial art Capoeira, for disadvantaged children and young people in Southwark.
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve and who will benefit the most from your solution? How close are you to the problem and/or community impacted?
Children and young people in Southwark face a range of interconnected social problems, including high levels of child poverty and housing instability, which can disrupt education and wellbeing. Many experience mental health challenges, alongside health inequalities such as limited access to physical activity and higher rates of obesity. There are also concerns around youth violence, exploitation, and safeguarding, as well as educational disengagement linked to family stress and frequent moves. Together, these issues increase the need for strong, joined-up support from schools, health services, youth provision, and community organisations.
Your approach: How are you/ will you addressing the problem outlined above? How does your solution unlock or reimagine access to spaces for sport and physical activity? What role do landowners, local authorities, or other decision-making stakeholders play in your approach? We'd love to know about the origin of your idea, and what was your "aha" moment" that led you to take action?
Our capoeira project can help reduce several of the challenges faced by children and young people in Southwark by addressing physical, emotional, and social needs at the same time. Firstly, capoeira provides positive, structured activity in a safe environment. Regular training helps young people stay physically active, improving fitness, coordination, and overall health, which can help tackle health inequalities and inactivity. Having a consistent, engaging activity also reduces idle time, which can lower the risk of involvement in anti-social behaviour or youth violence. Secondly, capoeira strongly supports mental wellbeing. The combination of movement, music, and focus helps reduce stress and anxiety, while learning new skills builds confidence, self-esteem, and resilience. This is particularly valuable for young people dealing with poverty, housing instability, or family pressures. Thirdly, capoeira promotes belonging and positive identity. Training takes place in a supportive group setting that encourages respect, discipline, and teamwork. Young people develop strong peer relationships and positive role models, helping to reduce isolation and the pull of negative influences. Capoeira also offers cultural education and self-expression, allowing young people to connect with history, music, and creativity. This can be especially empowering in a diverse borough like Southwark, where celebrating culture and identity helps young people feel seen and valued.
Collaboration with young people and the community: In what ways does your initiative engage young people and community members closest to the problem? What role do they play in building the solution you deliver?
Our capoeira project engages young people and community members closest to the challenges in active, meaningful, and ongoing ways, ensuring they help shape both the project and the outcomes it delivers. Firstly, young people are involved from the start through listening sessions, taster workshops, and informal feedback, allowing them to influence how sessions are designed, where they take place, and what feels relevant and motivating. This ensures the project reflects real experiences and local needs rather than imposed solutions. Within sessions, young people play an active role by co-creating the learning environment. Capoeira’s tradition encourages participation through movement, music, and call-and-response, giving everyone a voice regardless of confidence or background. As they progress, young people are supported to take on leadership roles, such as helping lead warm-ups, learning instruments, mentoring younger participants, or supporting community events. Community members, including parents, local residents, schools, and youth organisations, are engaged as partners rather than passive recipients. They help identify young people most at risk, provide trusted spaces, promote the project, and offer insight into local challenges. Their involvement strengthens trust, safeguarding, and long-term sustainability.
Potential for/Evidence of Impact: How do you imagine your initiative will make a difference in unlocking spaces for and access to physical activity and sport so far? If you have already implemented it, what difference have you made so far? What is the impact your initiative has had , and or what impact do you envision having in the future?
Our project makes a clear difference in unlocking access to physical activity and sport by offering an inclusive, culturally engaging alternative to traditional sports that many young people do not feel comfortable or represented in. Unlocking spaces and access Capoeira can take place in a wide range of spaces such as community centres, youth clubs, schools, parks, and faith or cultural venues. This flexibility allows the project to activate under-used local spaces and bring physical activity directly into neighbourhoods where access to sport is limited. Sessions are low-cost or free, beginner-friendly, and do not require specialist equipment, removing financial and confidence barriers that often prevent young people from taking part. Difference made so far. The capoeira projects that we have already run, have successfully engaged young people who were previously inactive or disengaged from sport. Participants have shown improved attendance, increased confidence, better physical fitness, and stronger social connections. Young people who would not normally join sports clubs have remained involved because capoeira combines music, creativity, culture, and movement in a non-competitive environment. Current and emerging impact The initiative has helped create safe, welcoming spaces for regular physical activity, particularly for young people affected by poverty, low confidence, or social exclusion. It has strengthened links between community venues, youth services, and families, and introduced positive routines that support both physical and mental wellbeing. Future impact Looking ahead, the project aims to expand into more local venues and outdoor spaces, train young people as peer leaders, and embed capoeira into schools and youth programmes.
Innovation: What is different about your initiative compared to other solutions that are already out there? How is your approach original and innovative?
Our project is different from many existing solutions because it offers a holistic, culturally rooted, and highly inclusive approach to physical activity, wellbeing, and youth engagement—rather than focusing on sport alone. Unlike traditional sports programmes, capoeira is non-competitive and adaptable, which makes it more accessible to young people who may feel excluded by team sports, performance pressure, or fixed skill levels. There are no trials, teams, or leagues; everyone can participate and progress at their own pace, helping to build confidence and long-term engagement. Capoeira uniquely blends physical activity with music, rhythm, storytelling, and history. This multi-layered approach engages young people physically, mentally, and emotionally at the same time. For many participants, especially those from diverse or marginalised backgrounds, this cultural element helps create a stronger sense of identity, belonging, and pride that standard sports programmes often lack. The approach is also innovative because it builds leadership from within the community. Young people are encouraged to take on roles as musicians, mentors, and facilitators, creating clear pathways from participant to leader. This shifts young people from being service users to active contributors and role models. Overall, what makes a capoeira project original and innovative is its ability to combine movement, culture, creativity, and community ownership into a single solution. It does not just address physical inactivity, but also tackles social isolation, low confidence, and lack of positive identity—offering a sustainable, people-centred alternative to existing approaches.
Viability and Scalability: How are you setting your initiative up for success, and what is your plan to ensure operational sustainability of your solution and its impact? What are your ideas for scaling your initiative to the next level?
Our project is being set up for success by building strong foundations, shared ownership, and long-term planning from the outset, rather than relying on short-term delivery alone. Setting the project up for success The project is rooted in local need, developed in partnership with schools, youth services, and community organisations that already have trusted relationships with young people. Sessions are delivered by experienced, safeguarding-trained instructors and designed to be inclusive, consistent, and high quality. Clear goals, monitoring, and regular feedback from participants and partners ensure the project stays responsive and effective. Operational sustainability To ensure sustainability, our project uses a mixed funding model, combining grants, partnerships, low-cost participant contributions where appropriate, and paid workshops or performances. Community venues are used to keep costs low, and volunteers and peer leaders are gradually trained to support delivery. Strong governance, safeguarding policies, and outcome reporting help maintain funder and partner confidence. Building long-term impact Young people are supported along progression pathways—from participant to assistant, leader, or facilitator—creating internal capacity and reducing reliance on external staff. This approach builds skills, confidence, and local ownership while embedding the project within the community. Scaling the initiative To scale our project, the focus is on replicating the model in new locations rather than rapid expansion. This includes developing a clear delivery framework, training local facilitators, and forming partnerships with schools, councils, and health and youth services.
Roles and Responsibilities: Describe how responsibilities are shared among your team or partners.
In our project, responsibilities are shared clearly across the board, project coordinator, coaches, and volunteers to ensure strong governance, effective delivery, and safe, high-quality impact. Board / Trustees The board provides overall strategic leadership and governance. They are responsible for setting the vision and long-term direction of the project, ensuring legal and financial compliance, overseeing safeguarding and risk management, and monitoring impact and sustainability. The board supports fundraising and partnerships while holding the project coordinator accountable for delivery. Project Coordinator The project coordinator manages the day-to-day operations of the project. This includes planning sessions, liaising with schools and community partners, managing schedules and venues, coordinating staff and volunteers, monitoring budgets, collecting data and feedback, and reporting outcomes to the board and funders. They act as the key link between strategy and delivery. Coaches / Instructors Coaches are responsible for the safe, inclusive, and high-quality delivery of capoeira sessions. They design and lead training, adapt activities to different ages and abilities, promote positive behaviour and values, and support young people’s personal development. Coaches also contribute to safeguarding, mentoring, and identifying leadership potential among participants. Volunteers Volunteers support both delivery and community engagement. Their roles may include assisting during sessions, welcoming participants, helping with music and equipment, supporting events and performances, and acting as positive role models. Volunteers help create a friendly, supportive environment and often include young people progressing into leadership roles. Shared working approach All roles work collaboratively, with clear communication, regular check-ins, and shared responsibility for safeguarding, inclusion, and participant wellbeing. This structure ensures accountability while encouraging teamwork, community ownership, and long-term sustainability of the capoeira project.
Upcoming Milestones: Please provide an overview of the milestones that are required for your initiative to come to fruition/to grow.
To bring our capoeira project to fruition and support its growth, the following key milestones are required. These stages help move the project from idea to delivery, impact, and long-term sustainability. 1. Planning and foundations Identify community need and target groups Define project aims, outcomes, and success measures Secure initial partners (schools, youth centres, community venues) Establish governance, safeguarding, and operational policies 2. Funding and resources Secure start-up funding or grants Confirm venues and session schedules Recruit qualified coaches and support staff Obtain equipment (instruments, mats if needed, insurance) 3. Pilot delivery Launch pilot sessions or taster workshops Engage young people and families through outreach Collect early feedback and attendance data Refine delivery model based on learning 4. Full programme delivery Establish regular weekly sessions Embed safeguarding, monitoring, and evaluation Strengthen partnerships with local organisations Showcase progress through community rodas or events 5. Capacity building Train volunteers and peer leaders Develop progression pathways for young people Improve systems for coordination, data collection, and reporting 6. Evaluation and impact Measure health, wellbeing, and engagement outcomes Gather case studies and participant voices Report impact to funders and stakeholders 7. Sustainability Secure longer-term funding and partnerships Diversify income (workshops, performances, memberships) Increase community ownership and leadership 8. Growth and scaling Replicate the model in new venues or neighbourhoods Train additional coaches and facilitators Develop toolkits and delivery frameworks Build cross-borough or regional partnerships Together, these milestones provide a clear roadmap for launching, strengthening, and scaling a capoeira project while maintaining quality, inclusion, and long-term impact.
Capacity-Building Participation and Support Funding: If you were to make it as a finalist, you will be required to participate in an 8-week capacity building programme. If funding/ cost is a barrier to your participation, we may be able to offer up to 10,000 GBP of grant money available to support you. Please break down below, if it is the case, what costs you would incur and you would need covered. (Please note that there are restrictions on how the grant money may be used; please refer to the T&Cs for further details.
One of our members of staff can participate on the 8 week capacity building programme. No problem at all.
If you selected “Other”, please specify below.
N/A
