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Constrained SituationLiving on the perimeters of wildlife reserves, and the edge of society, brings about a constrained situation where very few activities or financial opportunities exist for young people. Young people, mostly men, are easily recruited into rhino poaching with promises of money, and something to improve their situation. Boredom, idleness, and poverty are driving factors to becoming a rhino poacher. Through investing in the younger generations, WFF is investing in the future of wildlife. When more communities are included in conservation, we get closer to creating a prosperous perimeter, where people will have little to no reason to tolerate poaching. |
PURPOSE
The Protection And Conservation Of The African Rhinoceros. |
CAN THE GREATEST GAME SAVE THE GREATEST ANIMAL? |
The success of protecting wildlife and improving the livelihoods of those people living next to wildlife rely upon each other. |
ABOUT
WILD AND FREE FOUNDATION
Wild and Free Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2014 and registered in the United States and South Africa. Our mission is to create increased goodwill for rhino conservation by empowering youth and communities through sport and economic opportunities, and to serve as the most trusted partner in rural Africa.
Wild and Free believes poaching will be dramatically reduced when 21st century economic opportunities exist in the rural communities surrounding the national parks and wildlife reserves.
Wild and Free is a different way of thinking, a different way of connecting, and an organization dedicated to uplifting and empowering people for the benefit of people, wildlife, and habitat.
We believe that when we create a “prosperous perimeter” around national parks and wildlife reserves, rural community citizens will have very few or no reasons to poach. The communities surrounding wildlife reserves are the custodians of the wildlife because they will benefit from its existence.
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RHINO CUP CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
The Rhino Cup Champions League (RCCL) is an amateur football league in Africa located in rural communities surrounding national parks and wildlife reserves in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Started in 2016 with 12 men’s teams in Mozambique, the league has grown to 84 men’s, women’s, and youth teams with over 1,700 players and coaches. Every weekend during the season, over 5000 players and spectators gather at RCCL football fields enjoying the beautiful game and socializing. The implementation of the RCCL has gone far beyond our expectations. We're witnessing whole communities unite through football, giving a clear and strong statement that this league is only possible because of the rhinos. On game days, there is no shortage of gratitude and respect for rhinos, making it a win-win situation for both locals and rhinos.
The RCCL will continue to spread the message about rhinos and contribute to the development of young people in rural Africa. The RCCL is including more and more communities in conservation and creating a prosperous perimeter surrounding national parks and wildlife reserves.
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WHY A MEN’S FOOTBALL LEAGUE?The Rhino Cup Champions League addresses three challenges that typically lead to becoming a rhino poacher - boredom, idleness, and poverty.
Players in the men's league are the young men that are or potentially will become rhino poachers. With weekly RCCL games and practices young men have the opportunity to be part of a team, dream big, decrease idle time, and foster self-empowerment and improvement. In 2018, 40% of male students dropped out of school in Sabié, Mozambique, with rhino poaching being the number one activity they do after dropping out. Behind poverty, becoming a rhino poacher is the second highest reason boys drop out of school in the area. The RCCL is creating economic growth through small businesses developing at the fields, employment opportunities in the league, prize money directly to the clubs and players, and entrepreneurs providing paid services to help grow the league. Since 2008, over 800 young men from this area in rural Mozambique have been killed through anti-poaching measures, resulting in over 400 widows and 1000 orphans. People are ready for change! “Boys drop out of school because they think that they need to have money early so they just risk poaching.” Community member |
“Sabie needs more opportunities to occupy the young people to deter them from getting involved in poaching.” ~ Community member
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WHY A WOMEN’S FOOTBALL LEAGUE?On January 1, 2019 Wild and Free received a letter from the school girls in the Sabié, Mozambique area asking for a league of their own:
“Dear Wild and Free Foundation, We, the ladies from the Primary Schools and Secondary Schools of the area of Sabié, Mozambique call for financial support to make this project come true as a means to contradict the boy's ideas to kill the rhinos to benefit their own lives and remove the wild species from nature. We would like to join the Rhino Cup Champions League with the positive manifest and feelings to tell the boys, NO TO THE KILLING OF RHINOS! The intention of this project is to promote self-esteem and motivate the girls in order to stop school dropouts, premature pregnancies, drug addiction, and provide help in saving nature. Hence, we believe that the ladies can be the guidance and close advisers of the boys so that they may understand the natural species preservation of the rhinos since these wild species are going extinct. Those boys willing to be poachers run much risk of losing their precious lives because of killing these animals. Thus, from this idea we think we can get much expression of our thought about giving advice and council to the men willing to be poachers in the future, as well as it is also a better way to entertain them, the children, and the community in general. Football is the best sport, very much competitive, and from it we can call attention to avoid increasing actions that can risk human integrity in relation to the Mother Nature. With this, it is possible for us to take part in the fight against the killing of the rhinos through Wild and Free Foundation." |
40% of young women are pregnant and drop out of school before they turn 18, and only 11% of girls continue to secondary school (high school) after primary school. (Government Post of Sabié, Mozambique)
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RCCL MissionThe Mission of the RCCL is to provide opportunities for young people living in marginalized communities surrounding national parks and wildlife reserves to help reduce poaching, crime, school dropouts, early pregnancies, and substance abuse.
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RCCL VisionThe Vision of the RCCL is to be the largest and most impactful amateur football league in rural Africa.
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In 2021 the RCCL partnered with Save The Rhino Trust (SRT) in Namibia to expand their annual World Rhino Day Soccer Tournament into the RCYCL Namibia. The “Y” stands for “Youth”, the addition of the “Y” was a request from the government, and we gladly agreed. The RCYCL Namibia started with 16 men’s teams and training clinics for girls. Girls in this area have not had the opportunity to play organized soccer, the RCYCL is changing that. |
In 2021 the RCCL partnered with Painted Dog Conservation in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe to expand their annual Veterans Day Soccer Tournament into the RCCL Zimbabwe. The RCCL Zimbabwe started with 20 men’s teams and training clinics for girls. |
RCCL TANZANIA
Serengeti / Mara Area In 2024 the RCCL's goal is has to partner with Peace for Conservation to expand their annual Soccer Tournament into the RCCL Tanzania. RCCL MOZAMBIQUE
Kruger National Park / Great Limpopo Conservation Area In 2016 the RCCL was founded in Sabie, Mozambique. Sabie is our flagship location and home to the RCCL headquarters. The RCCL Mozambique currently has 24 teams - 14 men’s & 10 women's teams with 528 players and coaches representing 9 communities. |
THE TEAM |
RODRIGUES BITONE
Women’s RCCL Mozambique
CHARLES CHARE
RCCL Zimbabwe
UERIKONDJERA “Mamie” KASAONA
Women’s RCYCL Namibia
ORLANDO COSSA
RCCL Mozambique
DR. JEFF MUNTIFERING
RCYCL Namibia
MATT BRACKEN
President & CEO, WFF Co-Founder
ZANE GROBBELAAR
Social Media
ROHAN NEL
COO & WFF Co-Founder
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#CHANGING LIVES |
YOUNG PEOPLE FREE FROM POACHING
RURAL YOUTH & WILD RHINO
GIVING POACHING THE RED CARD
OUR 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.
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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©(3) non-profit corporation in America.
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OUR JOURNEY
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.
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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.
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OUR JOURNEY
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.
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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.
2022 – The RCCL kicks-off in Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe with 60 teams, over 1,300 players and coaches, and over 100 jobs created. And it’s just getting started!
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ACTION
ENGAGE
We asked how we could help stop young men dying in the bush while attempting to poach
rhinos, their answer was, “futbol”. Soccer is bringing people together not just to play, but to appreciate the sport, socialize and share ideas.
rhinos, their answer was, “futbol”. Soccer is bringing people together not just to play, but to appreciate the sport, socialize and share ideas.
UPLIFT
The RCCL is creating economic opportunities through jobs, prize money, and small
business development at the fields. By following through on our promises, we have established ourselves as a trusted partner.
business development at the fields. By following through on our promises, we have established ourselves as a trusted partner.
PROTECT
We are committed to protecting the African rhino from extinction by uplifting and
empowering the people that live near them. The RCCL is a collaboration that is turning communities away from poaching one game at a time.
empowering the people that live near them. The RCCL is a collaboration that is turning communities away from poaching one game at a time.
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.
Help the RCCL grow, because lives are changing through you!
THANK YOU
“Your support is transforming our lives!”
Elena Chivete
Mayor of the Government Post of Sabie
District of Moamba, Maputo Province
Mayor of the Government Post of Sabie
District of Moamba, Maputo Province
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