How can we initiate change  Wild and Free Foundation members arriving at a discussion held at Richard’s Tavern in Corumana, Mozambique, about expanding the soccer project. Image from the Wild and Free Community meeting, April 2017. An expedition led by the Wild and Free Foundation met with chiefs, elders, soccer players/rhino poachers, and community members in Mozambique to discuss a potential possibility that may benefit the community and save the rhinos. The following video is an account of the events. We arranged a meeting at Corumana, where we know we'll find our friends and soccer field, and where we want to include 30 individuals, including chiefs, elders, soccer players, rhino poachers, and other representatives of the community. We're bringing what we believe to be four fantastic possibilities to the table for a community conversation. The end aim is to have the community reject the requests of those who would pay them to kill a rhino, chop off his horns, and sell them.  Matt Bracken speaks during a discussion on the expansion of the soccer project in Mozambique, during a Wild and Free Community meeting, April 2017. We want to convey the new chance for rhinos right to the poachers themselves. The soccer is important, and the soccer project is now active; our plans for the other three initiatives are sketchy, but we have some ideas about how they may pan out. We are hoping to hear from the community so that we may tailor our efforts to meet their needs. Once again, it is a big day for us here. Today, it's a big opportunity and we can only move forward if we work together. We've got the leaders, a lot of the leaders are gathered here, and that is a very positive thing. Now we can move forward. We know now what is going on. It's all about trust.  A community elder and leader at the discussion about expanding the soccer project. Image from the Wild and Free Community meeting, April 2017. From their perspective of poaching, it's about how they see a result when they get paid for killing an animal, and they don't see all the benefits. The value in wildlife is going to take time to change, but everything is positive. Comments are closed.
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