Location and general information
Access to Sport - 
Children with disabilities - 
Employability - 
Environmental protection - 
Gender Equality - 
Healthy lifestyle - 
Personal developmentContext
Over two-thirds of the estimated 12,000 people living in the remote Basanga community are under the age of 19. These children and adolescents face many challenges, including a lack of education, food insecurity and inadequate healthcare.
Basanga lies on the edge of Zambia’s largest and oldest protected area, Kafue National Park, a rich ecosystem home to 30% of the country’s total elephant population and countless large carnivore species. Desperate community members living in poverty are drawn to poaching as they face scare employment opportunities and may not see the value of natural resources. At the same time, the absence of law enforcement lowers their risk perception. Single unemployed women in Zambia are particularly vulnerable to being exploited by the illegal wildlife trade. Women are considerably less likely than men to report wildlife crime and are drawn to exchange information, sex and secure accommodation on the borders of the park for bushmeat or money. This dangerous cycle of transactional sex perpetuates the spread of HIV, gender-based violence and unwanted pregnancies.
Project goals
- Reduce wildlife crime in and around Kafue National Park by raising awareness of conservation efforts and empowering young people through vocational training
- Improve young people’s health, well-being, problem-solving, leadership and resilience
- Prevent unplanned pregnancies, child marriage and sexual and spousal violence in Basanga by championing sexual health education and empowering girls
Project content
Game Rangers International (GRI) is building a multi-purpose community youth sports centre for the Basanga community. Over the next two years, with critical support from the UEFA Foundation for Children, GRI will engage, educate and empower children and adolescents at the centre, helping them to develop their skills and surrounding them with positive role models.
To this end, GRI will:
- Recruit and train a groundsman responsible for security and maintenance
- Recruit and train a community outreach ranger to schedule activities, develop content, coordinate partnerships and facilitate sessions
- Furnish and equip the centre so it can serve as a classroom, exhibition space, sports centre and outreach office
- Decorate the centre with conservation awareness posters and information
- Encourage children and adolescents to visit through radio broadcasts, posters and school visits
- Offer structured weekly football training and fitness sessions for children and adolescents
- Establish a vocational skills station and invite local professionals to offer short vocational courses for young people
- Offer children and adolescents training on environmental conservation, girls’ empowerment and life skills
Partners
