Airforce and Nanyuki Combined top seeds at Laikipia and beyond Unity Football Cup

Tree planting and Conservation agriculture key themes in Central Laikipia

Nairobi, 8 June 2010… As the world’s attention focuses on South Africa this Friday with the start of the month-long FIFA World Cup TM, the communities in Central Laikipia District will be gearing themselves for their own football fiesta – the inaugural Laikipia and beyond Unity Cup (LUC).

Starting on Friday, 11 June, a few hours before the Official Opening Ceremony at Soccer City, Johannesburg and the first match between host nation South Africa and Mexico, tops seeds Laikipia Air Base and Nanyuki Combined will take the field in the first of four regional tournaments, at Nyakio Primary School, Lamuria from 11am. This will be preceded by an Opening Ceremony to be addressed by acting South African High Commissioner, Thulani Nyembe, a partner of the event and the Honorable Mwangi Kiunjuri, MP Laikipia East.

With the aim of creating unity and understanding amongst the diverse communities of Laikipia and raising awareness of environmental issues amongst Kenyan youth, tree planting and conservation agriculture will be the main theme for the environmental activities that have been planned for the eight teams and communities this weekend.

Pool A is headed by Laikipia Air Base and includes Ol Pejeta, Mutara and Tigithi Combined. Nanyuki Combined will head Pool B and will play against Lamuria Combined, Segera and Sirima Combined to qualify for a place in the semi-finals, Sunday.

The Semi-finals play off will decide the teams for the finals, after which a composite team will be selected to represent the Central Unit to be pitted against Mathare Huruma, making a guest appearance.

Matches will start on Friday morning, with a half-day set aside on Saturday for tree-planting and demonstrations of conservation agriculture methods. All the pool matches will end on Saturday afternoon. Environment talks and activities will be interspersed with mini-football for children throughout the weekend co-ordinated by the Laikipia Wildlife Forum and United Nations Environment Programme. (UNEP) And to tie-in with Africa’s celebration of the World Cup, the organisers have arranged for live screening of the matches during the regional events.

Conceived by the Zeitz Foundation and sponsored by Safaricom, the Laikipia and Beyond Unity Cup it is being organised to unite the district’s communities through football and environmental activities for the next six weeks, under the patronage of Cameroon Football captain, Samuel Eto’o, who will attend the finals at the Nanyuki Municipal Stadium on 21 and 22 July 2010.

Members of the Laikipia Wildlife Forum are hosting the regional events, starting at Lamuria for the Central Unit. The Western Unit tournament will be held from 18-20 June at Sosian Centre; whilst the Uaso Nyiro Unit tournament will take place from 2-4 July at Kimanju Primary School with the last of the four event to be held at the North Kenya Polo ground from 9-11 July.

The Laikipia and beyond Unity Cup is also supported by other institutions, including the British Army who are providing the infrastructure for the players accommodation and pitches; the Kenya Airforce base and Nanyuki District Hospital are running free medical camps at each tournament.

Ends

For further information please contact

Liz Rihoy, Programme Director,

Zeitz Foundation, Nairobi Office Tel: +254 73 650 3249

or

Andrew Mudibo, Yolanda Tavares Public Relations,

Tel: 020 272 4383/5/7, Email: andrew@ytpr.co.ke Cell: +254 725 346 936

Note to Editors

The Laikipia and Beyond Unity Cup is an invitational event. A total of thirty two teams will compete at the four events for regional honours, with each region then selecting the best players from the eight teams within their region to form a Combined Team to represent the region in the Finals in Nanyuki. The teams are drawn from rural communities, local institutions, local government authorities and commercial ranches. Also invited are the Mathare Youth Sports Association who will send a team to each region to play the Combined Regional team in an exhibition match. The visiting teams from Nairobi will be treated to game drives to experience wildlife and wilderness on a firsthand basis.

Laikipia District has one of the most diverse, cultural and tribal groupings in the country. The unique Laikipia ecosystem encompasses unblemished wilderness, the mighty Mount Kenya, arid drylands savannah and forest and thus provides unique football venues.

The Zeitz Foundation

The Zeitz Foundation for Intercultural Ecosphere Safety (I.E.S.) is inspired by a vision of the Ecosphere – our planet and all of its life-sustaining regions – maintained in the healthiest possible state, and is committed to promoting an inclusive, holistic paradigm of conservation that enhances livelihoods and fosters intercultural dialogue.

The mission of the Foundation is to create and support sustainable, socially and ecologically responsible projects and destinations around the world to achieve long lasting impact and sustainability through the holistic balance of conservation, community, culture and commerce (the 4C’s) in privately managed areas.

The Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF)

LWF is a member driven organisation that brings together land owners and resource users of all kinds including large-scale ranchers, small scale farmers and pastoralists to tackle the challenges in the Laikipia ecosystem. They work together to achieve a common goal: Conserving the integrity of the Laikipia ecosystem, by creatively managing it’s natural resources to improve the livelihood of its people.

Laikipia Wildlife Forum is the first institution of its kind to develop a significant capacity to foster development and conservation goals on a district-wide level in Kenya.

South Africa as you have never seen it before

As all eyes turn to the tip of Africa this month with the World Cup, Friend of the Zeitz Foundation and best-selling author Michael Poliza captures the country’s richly diverse land and people in his stunning ‘South Africa’ coffee table book.

The Rainbow Nation comes alive under the lens of Poliza and some of South Africa’s most famous photographers invited to contribute to this book: Vanessa Cowling, Chris Fallows, Justin Fox, Craig Fraser, Chris Kirchhoff, Mandla Mnyakama, Obie Oberholzer and Thomas P Peschak.

The result is a reminder of the country’s stark natural beauty and an invitation to protect it!

Friend of the Zeitz Foundation, Yann Arthus-Bertrand, launches new environmental NGO

Good Planet is a French NGO founded by photographer and Friend of the Zeitz Foundation, Yann Arthus-Bertrand. It offers information, news and opinions on environmental topics, such as food and agriculture, biodiversity, and pollution. The Good Planet website http://www.goodplanet.info/ presents the different sides to a variety of environmental and ecological debates; provides interesting facts and figures; and a series of green tips. The website is available in French and English.

Supermodel turned women’s rights activist, Waris Dirie, becomes a Friend of the Zeitz Foundation

Waris Dirie, world famous model and activist, recognised globally for her efforts to improve women’s rights and for her writing and acting careers, is endorsing the Zeitz Foundation’s cause.

“The Zeitz Foundation is working for a better world. Through its projects, the Foundation engages with communities, promoting culture, conservation and commerce. Since I am also striving for a better tomorrow, particularly for women in all countries, I am proud to be a Friend of the Zeitz Foundation. I believe individuals have the power to change things, and collectively, we can achieve a lot. I back the Foundation’s work because I see it brings a more stable future for communities and therefore more possibilities for women to decide how to conduct their lives,” said Dirie.

By becoming a Friend of the Zeitz Foundation, Waris Dirie adds to the many feathers in her cap. Amongst other roles, in 1997, she was appointed UN Special Ambassador for the elimination of female genital mutilation; in 2002, she founded the Waris Dirie Foundation; and in 2009 she established the PPR Foundation for Women’s Dignity and Rights’ with François-Henri Pinault, CEO of PPR, and Hollywood actress, Salma Hayek.

Dirie has received a multitude of accolades, including Knight of the Legion of Honour from the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Women’s World Award from former Russian President, Mikhail Gorbachev.

As Friend of the Zeitz Foundation, she joins other prestigious personalities such as film-maker and photographer, Yann Arthus-Bertrand; writer, producer and director, Luc Besson; Grammy Award-winning singer Angelique Kidjo; and football star Samuel Eto’o.

What Some of Our Friends Say about the Zeitz Foundation

Angelique Kidjo, Grammy-award winning singer and songwriter

Benin-born Angelique Kidjo, a Goodwill Ambassador for Unicef whose own Batonga Foundation supports girls' education in Africa, lends her voice to the Zeitz Foundation in recognition that as a collective, we can all contribute to the change we want to see.

“I am a passionate advocate for girls education in Africa and during my many visits across the continent and in my native Benin, the message I return with continues to be loud and clear—we must keep working. Encouraging open dialogues and creating learning opportunities, as a start, requires the efforts of many and I am happy to know that the Zeitz Foundation is doing its share, in Kenya and beyond.”

Luc Besson, writer, producer, and director

Besson, whose early years were characterized by a life aquatic, raveling around the world with his scuba diving instructor parents, has always had a passionate connection with the environment:

“I have always shared my passion for nature and expressed my deep respect for the Earth through my films. Art can be a powerful communication tool, one that offers new perspectives and encourages more profound connections with the people and places around us. The Zeitz Foundation understands that and I salute their work.”

The Zeitz Foundation is honored by the support of these powerful individuals and we are priveleged to call them Friends.

Samuel Eto'o, Friend of the Zeitz Foundation

International football star, Samuel Eto'o, commented on the value of sport as a peace-building tool by contributing these words about the Zeitz Foundation:

“As a football player, I have traveled to many different places and have experienced the great imbalances that continue to challenge us as a global community. Every time I return to my homeland of Cameroon, I realize that there is still so much to be done and that any honest and responsible effort, regardless of how big or small it is, counts. The Zeitz Foundation’s dedication to community development and conservation is therefore important to me, particularly when it comes to working towards sustainable solutions within Africa, helping preserve the beauty and enhance the lives of people of my continent.”

Michael Poliza, Friend of the Zeitz Foundation

World renowned photographer, Michael Poliza, whose collection of photographs Eyes Over Africa changed the way we see the African continent, says about the Foundation:

“I have had the incredible fortune to see many parts of the world from a birds-eye perspective that only a few others have had. Our planet and people are facing enormous challenges and I think that if we could all truly experience the immense beauty of this earth from a fresh & new perspective, we would surely change our ways. Fortunately, there are those who are, indeed, offering new perspectives and working towards creating change. The Zeitz Foundation is one of those. I support their dedication to promoting sustainability which is evident in ­their initiatives and partnerships."