Coaching for Conservation
This project's parent organization is Botswana Predator Conservation Trust
It operates in South Africa
It uses Football (Soccer)
Entered the Sport for the Environment Award
More about Coaching for Conservation
Coaching for Conservation (C4C) uses organized sport to address an important social challenge of protecting wildlife and wildlife habitats. In a country struggling with HIV/AIDS, planning for the future can be overwhelming. It is becoming increasingly clear that the same behaviours and attitudes that impact health and future orientation affect conservation efforts.
Our core values chant; "Respect Yourself, Respect Each Other, and Respect Your Environment" helps children build self-esteem, engage in constructive exchange and become aware that the first step to being interested in the future and the world around you, is to choose to have a future. The links between sport, health and conservation are not always immediately obvious.
C4C tackles issues with an innovative sports curriculum which marries football skills to conservation and wildlife messages by using games and skills sets taught through animal coaches and animal behaviors with an aim to build positive relationships with the animal, themselves, others and the environment. For example, when teaching the importance of teamwork, the wild dog coach illustrates the vital role of teamwork for survival and cheetahs teach the value of speed and agility. C4C also teaches young adult Batswana to become mentors to the young people in their communities.