A Wild & Free Journey

2011 – After 10 years in the photographic safari industry and seeing the decline in wildlife due to poaching, Matt Bracken takes leave from his job and becomes the first American to graduate from Protrack Anti-Poaching Ranger Training in South Africa.  Matt wants to film the training and is looking for a videographer, a friend tells him, “Rohan’s your man”.  South African professional photographer Rohan Nel agrees to film Matt’s 8-week training in the bush.  They met the day before training and have been partners ever since. 
   
2012 – At 38 years old Matt was the oldest trainee ever at Protrack, and growing up in America he was not the most proficient in the art of working in the African bush, but he knew he wanted to stay in the fight to protect wildlife from poachers.  Matt and Rohan discuss making a film about the sacrifices anti-poaching rangers make trying to protect the world's last rhinos. 

2013 - Matt and Rohan spend the year filming "Boots on the Ground'' in South Africa, the story of anti-poaching rangers going through training, their first patrols, and the families they leave behind.  The film debuted at the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival in New York in October and won "Best Amateur Documentary". 

2014 – Matt and Rohan discuss starting a non-profit to help anti-poaching rangers with training costs and equipment.  Matt spends most of the year in America going through the process of establishing a non-profit.  Rohan continues to film stories of rangers in the bush.  In October Wild and Free Foundation becomes a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in America.

2015 – Matt hosts Wild and Free fundraising events throughout America with money going to ranger training and equipment.  Rohan continues to film in the bush with rangers.

2016 – Over time, it became clear to Matt and Rohan that rangers protecting wildlife has limitations.  Not only are communities torn apart when rangers are pitted against their neighbors who are poachers, but the underlying economic reasons why local people poach are not being addressed.  Poaching is one of the few ways left to earn a living and feel productive while staying in the community.  Wild and Free is invited to a meeting in an area of Mozambique where a high percentage of young men were getting killed or arrested while trying to poach rhinos in Kruger National Park and they asked how they could help, the reply, "futbol".  And just like that Wild and Free went from hating the poachers to helping the poachers, and a new mission was created – to protect rhinos by uplifting and empowering the young people and communities surrounding national parks and wildlife reserves.  

2017 – Wild and Free sponsors a two-week soccer tournament for 12 men’s teams in Sabie, Mozambique called the Rhino Cup.  The success of the tournament built trust between Wild and Free and the community and soon community leaders asked if the Rhino Cup tournament could be expanded into a proper league with a full-season of games.  Matt and Rohan agree to fund the league.  The name Rhino Cup Champions League (RCCL) was decided upon, and a 6-person committee of local leaders was put in place to manage the league.

2018 – On April 14 the Rhino Cup Champions League (RCCL) officially kicked-off with 12 men’s teams representing 9 communities.  Speeches were given by Wild and Free, government officials, and players.  The Chief of the area poured whiskey on a soccer ball to bless the new league and Matt and the Chief had a ceremonial kick-off to start the first game of the Rhino Cup Champions League.  British filmmaker Myles Pizzey begins filming his award-winning documentary about the inaugural season called “The Rhino Cup”.

2019 – Wild and Free receives a letter from the girls of the local schools in the Sabie area requesting a league of their own.  A women’s league is created and begins with 10 teams from 10 local schools.  Season two of the men’s league is played with 2 new teams for a total of 14.  The league grows to 24 teams with 528 players and coaches, and over 16,000 spectators attend games throughout the season.  Over 2,000 spectators watch the final game and awards ceremony.

2020 – Feb 6 Matt has a speaking event in NYC, March 5 Matt speaks at a Rotary Club in Pittsburgh, March 13 Covid shuts everything down.  In April the 2020 RCCL season is canceled.  Wild and Free provides funds for the RCCL Committee to purchase and deliver food and sanitary supplies to those most in need throughout the rural areas where the soccer teams are.

2021 – The RCCL expands into Namibia and Zimbabwe by partnering with Save the Rhino Trust and Painted Dog Conservation to convert their community soccer programs into the RCCL.  League managers and leaders are identified and training clinics for referees and coaches begin.

ETHICS

FOCUS

Rhinos are our fundamental focus because they are a keystone species in their ecosystem, leading us to engage with rural communities to build uplifting community projects.

COMPASSION

We have learned that the challenge to stop rhino poaching takes understanding and empathy of the situation and for all parties involved.

TRUST

For the communities to trust our actions requires listening and acting on what the people tell us, especially in rural communities where we need to ensure that the people are able to participate in the decisions that affect them.

TRANSPARENCY

Our transparency embodies honesty and open communication because being upfront and visible about our actions ensures that we remain consistent in engaging with people.