Champions Journal reaches all parts of the globe, but in recent months we’ve been giving Zambia a special focus after teaming up with local conservation charity Game Rangers International (GRI).
GRI operates in the Kafue National Park in Zambia’s Southern Province, educating local people on how to secure their crops and herds from wildlife, and the importance of protecting the ecosystem around them.
Football is proving to be an excellent way of getting this message across. Steffan Perkins is a qualified football coach who has been helping run tournaments in the football-mad country with the support of the Football Association of Zambia. He has seen first-hand how the sport brings people together to allow GRI the chance to explain its mission.
“When you put on a tournament, the whole community will come out and watch, and it creates a lot of goodwill,” he says. “It helps Game Rangers International build links and create relationships that can then work on these problems together. Cattle is one of the main sources of income for people in the area. Because of a severe drought this year, lions were travelling further to find water, and in three months they took 200 cattle. That is a huge amount of money for a rural community to lose.”
This is where GRI steps in, using football as a platform to explain how the protection of wildlife and local livelihoods are intrinsically linked. “Until you see it in practice, you can’t believe how powerful football is,” Steffan says. “You’re creating something that people want to be a part of, and when they want to be a part of it, they’re much more likely to want to listen to the message you’re sharing. Football has bridged the gap between the local people and the charity.”
Champions Journal, in tandem with our parent company TwelfthMan and adidas, has been providing support through the donation of trophies, footballs, kits and boots. Recently, GRI gained even greater backing when it was selected by the UEFA Foundation for Children to become one of its featured charities.
The foundation is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, having been set up in 2015 to use the power of football to improve the lives of vulnerable children around the world. With its backing, GRI will be able to develop its programme in Zambia.
“The funding will pay for salaries, electricity and equipment,” Steffan explains. “We’re also hoping to get a bus to pick kids up and bring them to the clubhouse to play football, feed them and coach them.” GRI community outreach manager Britius Munkombwe adds: “The football project is very valuable and has helped enhance levels of understanding and appreciation of the importance of wildlife conservation.”
A grassroots project in rural Zambia may feel a long way from the bright lights of the Champions League, but, for the kids involved, their passion for this sport is just the same.
Champions Journal reaches all parts of the globe, but in recent months we’ve been giving Zambia a special focus after teaming up with local conservation charity Game Rangers International (GRI).
GRI operates in the Kafue National Park in Zambia’s Southern Province, educating local people on how to secure their crops and herds from wildlife, and the importance of protecting the ecosystem around them.
Football is proving to be an excellent way of getting this message across. Steffan Perkins is a qualified football coach who has been helping run tournaments in the football-mad country with the support of the Football Association of Zambia. He has seen first-hand how the sport brings people together to allow GRI the chance to explain its mission.
“When you put on a tournament, the whole community will come out and watch, and it creates a lot of goodwill,” he says. “It helps Game Rangers International build links and create relationships that can then work on these problems together. Cattle is one of the main sources of income for people in the area. Because of a severe drought this year, lions were travelling further to find water, and in three months they took 200 cattle. That is a huge amount of money for a rural community to lose.”
This is where GRI steps in, using football as a platform to explain how the protection of wildlife and local livelihoods are intrinsically linked. “Until you see it in practice, you can’t believe how powerful football is,” Steffan says. “You’re creating something that people want to be a part of, and when they want to be a part of it, they’re much more likely to want to listen to the message you’re sharing. Football has bridged the gap between the local people and the charity.”
Champions Journal, in tandem with our parent company TwelfthMan and adidas, has been providing support through the donation of trophies, footballs, kits and boots. Recently, GRI gained even greater backing when it was selected by the UEFA Foundation for Children to become one of its featured charities.
The foundation is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, having been set up in 2015 to use the power of football to improve the lives of vulnerable children around the world. With its backing, GRI will be able to develop its programme in Zambia.
“The funding will pay for salaries, electricity and equipment,” Steffan explains. “We’re also hoping to get a bus to pick kids up and bring them to the clubhouse to play football, feed them and coach them.” GRI community outreach manager Britius Munkombwe adds: “The football project is very valuable and has helped enhance levels of understanding and appreciation of the importance of wildlife conservation.”
A grassroots project in rural Zambia may feel a long way from the bright lights of the Champions League, but, for the kids involved, their passion for this sport is just the same.
Champions Journal reaches all parts of the globe, but in recent months we’ve been giving Zambia a special focus after teaming up with local conservation charity Game Rangers International (GRI).
GRI operates in the Kafue National Park in Zambia’s Southern Province, educating local people on how to secure their crops and herds from wildlife, and the importance of protecting the ecosystem around them.
Football is proving to be an excellent way of getting this message across. Steffan Perkins is a qualified football coach who has been helping run tournaments in the football-mad country with the support of the Football Association of Zambia. He has seen first-hand how the sport brings people together to allow GRI the chance to explain its mission.
“When you put on a tournament, the whole community will come out and watch, and it creates a lot of goodwill,” he says. “It helps Game Rangers International build links and create relationships that can then work on these problems together. Cattle is one of the main sources of income for people in the area. Because of a severe drought this year, lions were travelling further to find water, and in three months they took 200 cattle. That is a huge amount of money for a rural community to lose.”
This is where GRI steps in, using football as a platform to explain how the protection of wildlife and local livelihoods are intrinsically linked. “Until you see it in practice, you can’t believe how powerful football is,” Steffan says. “You’re creating something that people want to be a part of, and when they want to be a part of it, they’re much more likely to want to listen to the message you’re sharing. Football has bridged the gap between the local people and the charity.”
Champions Journal, in tandem with our parent company TwelfthMan and adidas, has been providing support through the donation of trophies, footballs, kits and boots. Recently, GRI gained even greater backing when it was selected by the UEFA Foundation for Children to become one of its featured charities.
The foundation is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, having been set up in 2015 to use the power of football to improve the lives of vulnerable children around the world. With its backing, GRI will be able to develop its programme in Zambia.
“The funding will pay for salaries, electricity and equipment,” Steffan explains. “We’re also hoping to get a bus to pick kids up and bring them to the clubhouse to play football, feed them and coach them.” GRI community outreach manager Britius Munkombwe adds: “The football project is very valuable and has helped enhance levels of understanding and appreciation of the importance of wildlife conservation.”
A grassroots project in rural Zambia may feel a long way from the bright lights of the Champions League, but, for the kids involved, their passion for this sport is just the same.
Champions Journal reaches all parts of the globe, but in recent months we’ve been giving Zambia a special focus after teaming up with local conservation charity Game Rangers International (GRI).
GRI operates in the Kafue National Park in Zambia’s Southern Province, educating local people on how to secure their crops and herds from wildlife, and the importance of protecting the ecosystem around them.
Football is proving to be an excellent way of getting this message across. Steffan Perkins is a qualified football coach who has been helping run tournaments in the football-mad country with the support of the Football Association of Zambia. He has seen first-hand how the sport brings people together to allow GRI the chance to explain its mission.
“When you put on a tournament, the whole community will come out and watch, and it creates a lot of goodwill,” he says. “It helps Game Rangers International build links and create relationships that can then work on these problems together. Cattle is one of the main sources of income for people in the area. Because of a severe drought this year, lions were travelling further to find water, and in three months they took 200 cattle. That is a huge amount of money for a rural community to lose.”
This is where GRI steps in, using football as a platform to explain how the protection of wildlife and local livelihoods are intrinsically linked. “Until you see it in practice, you can’t believe how powerful football is,” Steffan says. “You’re creating something that people want to be a part of, and when they want to be a part of it, they’re much more likely to want to listen to the message you’re sharing. Football has bridged the gap between the local people and the charity.”
Champions Journal, in tandem with our parent company TwelfthMan and adidas, has been providing support through the donation of trophies, footballs, kits and boots. Recently, GRI gained even greater backing when it was selected by the UEFA Foundation for Children to become one of its featured charities.
The foundation is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, having been set up in 2015 to use the power of football to improve the lives of vulnerable children around the world. With its backing, GRI will be able to develop its programme in Zambia.
“The funding will pay for salaries, electricity and equipment,” Steffan explains. “We’re also hoping to get a bus to pick kids up and bring them to the clubhouse to play football, feed them and coach them.” GRI community outreach manager Britius Munkombwe adds: “The football project is very valuable and has helped enhance levels of understanding and appreciation of the importance of wildlife conservation.”
A grassroots project in rural Zambia may feel a long way from the bright lights of the Champions League, but, for the kids involved, their passion for this sport is just the same.
Champions Journal reaches all parts of the globe, but in recent months we’ve been giving Zambia a special focus after teaming up with local conservation charity Game Rangers International (GRI).
GRI operates in the Kafue National Park in Zambia’s Southern Province, educating local people on how to secure their crops and herds from wildlife, and the importance of protecting the ecosystem around them.
Football is proving to be an excellent way of getting this message across. Steffan Perkins is a qualified football coach who has been helping run tournaments in the football-mad country with the support of the Football Association of Zambia. He has seen first-hand how the sport brings people together to allow GRI the chance to explain its mission.
“When you put on a tournament, the whole community will come out and watch, and it creates a lot of goodwill,” he says. “It helps Game Rangers International build links and create relationships that can then work on these problems together. Cattle is one of the main sources of income for people in the area. Because of a severe drought this year, lions were travelling further to find water, and in three months they took 200 cattle. That is a huge amount of money for a rural community to lose.”
This is where GRI steps in, using football as a platform to explain how the protection of wildlife and local livelihoods are intrinsically linked. “Until you see it in practice, you can’t believe how powerful football is,” Steffan says. “You’re creating something that people want to be a part of, and when they want to be a part of it, they’re much more likely to want to listen to the message you’re sharing. Football has bridged the gap between the local people and the charity.”
Champions Journal, in tandem with our parent company TwelfthMan and adidas, has been providing support through the donation of trophies, footballs, kits and boots. Recently, GRI gained even greater backing when it was selected by the UEFA Foundation for Children to become one of its featured charities.
The foundation is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, having been set up in 2015 to use the power of football to improve the lives of vulnerable children around the world. With its backing, GRI will be able to develop its programme in Zambia.
“The funding will pay for salaries, electricity and equipment,” Steffan explains. “We’re also hoping to get a bus to pick kids up and bring them to the clubhouse to play football, feed them and coach them.” GRI community outreach manager Britius Munkombwe adds: “The football project is very valuable and has helped enhance levels of understanding and appreciation of the importance of wildlife conservation.”
A grassroots project in rural Zambia may feel a long way from the bright lights of the Champions League, but, for the kids involved, their passion for this sport is just the same.
Champions Journal reaches all parts of the globe, but in recent months we’ve been giving Zambia a special focus after teaming up with local conservation charity Game Rangers International (GRI).
GRI operates in the Kafue National Park in Zambia’s Southern Province, educating local people on how to secure their crops and herds from wildlife, and the importance of protecting the ecosystem around them.
Football is proving to be an excellent way of getting this message across. Steffan Perkins is a qualified football coach who has been helping run tournaments in the football-mad country with the support of the Football Association of Zambia. He has seen first-hand how the sport brings people together to allow GRI the chance to explain its mission.
“When you put on a tournament, the whole community will come out and watch, and it creates a lot of goodwill,” he says. “It helps Game Rangers International build links and create relationships that can then work on these problems together. Cattle is one of the main sources of income for people in the area. Because of a severe drought this year, lions were travelling further to find water, and in three months they took 200 cattle. That is a huge amount of money for a rural community to lose.”
This is where GRI steps in, using football as a platform to explain how the protection of wildlife and local livelihoods are intrinsically linked. “Until you see it in practice, you can’t believe how powerful football is,” Steffan says. “You’re creating something that people want to be a part of, and when they want to be a part of it, they’re much more likely to want to listen to the message you’re sharing. Football has bridged the gap between the local people and the charity.”
Champions Journal, in tandem with our parent company TwelfthMan and adidas, has been providing support through the donation of trophies, footballs, kits and boots. Recently, GRI gained even greater backing when it was selected by the UEFA Foundation for Children to become one of its featured charities.
The foundation is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, having been set up in 2015 to use the power of football to improve the lives of vulnerable children around the world. With its backing, GRI will be able to develop its programme in Zambia.
“The funding will pay for salaries, electricity and equipment,” Steffan explains. “We’re also hoping to get a bus to pick kids up and bring them to the clubhouse to play football, feed them and coach them.” GRI community outreach manager Britius Munkombwe adds: “The football project is very valuable and has helped enhance levels of understanding and appreciation of the importance of wildlife conservation.”
A grassroots project in rural Zambia may feel a long way from the bright lights of the Champions League, but, for the kids involved, their passion for this sport is just the same.
