TIDE Freshwater Cup Football Tournament
- Biodiversity
- Citizen participation
- Climate change
- Conservation
- Youth development
- Sports
- Water Supply
Example: Walk us through a specific example(s) of how this solution makes a difference; include its primary activities.
Ruth
McLean Dawson
Toledo Institute for Development and Environment
, TO
Toledo Institute for Development and Environment
501.722.2431
One Mile San Antonio Road, Punta Gorda
, TO
, TO
Generate a greater awareness of the importance of conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources by communities in the Toledo District of southern Belize; directly involve young people and local people in resource planning and management, creating a connection with the land; instil pride in local communities forming a connection between the ecosystem, victory in the football tournament, and success in the environmental projects; improve general health and wellbeing throughout the area; and participate in improving present and future quality of life for young people. The TIDE Freshwater Cup is implemented each year with the assistance of volunteers. TIDE arranges program activities, provides technical assistance for the environmental projects, manages the budget, and ensures reports. TIDE Staff participates in virtually every game and project.
Litter collection involved communities covering parks, rivers, highways and beaches.
Tree planting for reforestation and and aesthetic improvement as well as the prevention of erosion.
Educational campaigns on environmental protection in communities including the design and erection of bilboards on environmental themes, lessons in schools and meetings to discuss environmental issues with various communities.
Launch of eco-tourism in communities.
Founding of environmental clubs in several communities, include one led by mother of the Jacinto Ville football team.
The elimination of illegal dumps and the opening of new, organizaed dump in accordance with environmental wast management standards.
The location of refugse cans in all participating communities, painted and decorated by members of the community - mainly students.
The Belize Defense Force now accompanies TIDE rangers on some surveillance and patrol activities.
A lot of fun and activities related to playing and enjoying football games.
At the end of each TIDE Freshwater Cup, the staff, volunteers and community has an opprotunity to evaluate the program and make recommendations for the upcoming year (or years). TIDE will build on such lessons learned as: activities within reserves, protected areas or natural parks cannot overlook the resident population and much allow for income generation and better standards of learning for residents; community involvement is essential preservation of the environmnent and providing solutions to all problems faced; methodologies muc include an active roled for residents in conservation and spreading environmental awareness; support from government agencies is needed and must be increased; environmental awarenes must encompass all inhabitants including adolescents and children allowing every person the shared responsibility of teaching otheres about conserving the environment; community traditions must be used to help develop environmental awareness - the more well-known, attractive, and entertaining these are to the community members, the easier it is to involve the whole community; and the active participation of governmental and non-governmental institutions are indispensible in the long-term executin of this type of program.
For several years there has been discussion of a semi-pro or even a professional football team that would involve some of the TIDE Freshwater Cup community players. At this writing, this has been consistently delayed. However, this would be more of a success than a challenge - to have football played at a professional or semi-professional level in the Toledo District of southern Belize would be a great accomplishment.
Money is always needed - money pays for staff to work the games and organize the activities. Money pays for the field and referees and money provides the prizes for the environmental projects and the football tournament.
Money provides shoes for children who often must play barefoot or without proper shoes. Money provides transportation to games for teams and for fans.
Money is the most needed commodity.
1001‐10,000
Less than $50
Operating for 1‐5 years
, TO
Yes
Toledo Institute for Development and Environment
More than 5 years
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
The partner most critical to the success of the TIDE Freshwater Cup is the community - each village and town involved in the Toledo District gives of their time and effort to the environmental projects and making a difference in their own and the lives of others; the team members lead this effort and expend their energy in playing football - for the entertainment of people in the area, but also to promote an agenda of environmental awareness.
TIDE maintains an active outreach strategy through social media and through direct fundraising efforts. Committed (financial) partners include the Oak Foundation, the Summit Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, the Government of Belize (Debt for Nature Swap), COMPACT, the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Protected Areas Conservation Trust, Environment Defense Fund the Mesoamerican Reef Fund, Rainforest Alliance, Outpost International, Hausman Foundation, Call for the Wild Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA), and other individuals, corporations, and foundations.
Research and monitoring creates a strong research and evidence base to develop innovative, interdisciplinary research and methodologies delivering appropriate tools and approaches. Assessing the health of the ecosystem includes marine, terrestrial and freshwater systems in an integrated approach to research and recommendation, incorporating the entirety of the watershed from headwaters to the coral reefs. Ecosystem mapping, the systems based knowledge of coastal and marine socio-ecological systems includes the inter-linkages with marine and terrestrial systems to increase understanding and information management decisions. Environmental education and outreach is conducted through a variety of activities that focus on both Marine and Terrestrial priorities and include: twice monthly Radio show, Freshwater Cup Football Tournament, Summer Camp – an annual activity, TIDE Weekend – over the holiday weekend of Pan-American Day and includes the Fish Fest and Youth Conservation Competition, and Outreach to schools and students - Awareness days and events, Science fairs, Poster and essay contests, Reports and research, and Special educational exhibits. Outreach to communities - Community meetings and consultations, Community involvement in ecosystems management, Development of materials that focus on Marine and Terrestrial issues, Social Media. Outreach to the wider world community through the website, Facebook, blogs, twitter, e-news, newsletters, and other tools. TIDE conducts enforcement of laws and regulations through a series of activities: Regular patrols by TIDE rangers; Joint patrols with the Belize Defense Force, Fisheries, and others; Signage and information regarding regulations; Demarcation; Capacity building of TIDE rangers, community stewards, and members of the general public. TIDE operates ranger and visitor stations on Abalone Caye, the Rio Grande River, West Snake Caye, and at Payne’s Creek National Park and a liaison office in the Village of Monkey River to provide management of the following areas: Port Honduras Marine Reserve, Payne's Creek National Park, and TIDE Private Protected Lands.
Reaching impoverished communities with a message that the natural resources of Belize are worth saving and worth investing their time and energy provided a significant challenge. Athletics, specifically football, is an interest of virtually every member of the community and players are often informal leaders of their community, people to whom community members listen. Thus was born the concept to utilize football as the tool to build understanding and committment to conservation in the Toledo District of Belize.
Wil Maheia was the Executive Director of the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE)from founding the NGO in 1997 until 2007. Since the beginning of TIDE Will and the staff, worked with local communities to ensure the protection of Toledo’s marine and terrestrial environments. Wil is responsible for developing innovative conservation programs at TIDE that have been recognized by the local, national, and international communities. While working with communities to identify alternative income generating activities,
TIDE conducted the first fly-fishing (for prospective guides) and kayaking training courses as alternatives to gill-net fishing in the Toledo District. Wil worked closely with local communities to establish the Port Honduras Marine Reserve, one of the largest marine reserves in the country. The Freshwater Cup, a conservation atheletes program, encourages migrant and rural
communities to become more involved in the conservation of Toledo’s natural resources by combining organized sports with environmental projects. In 2005, the program sponsored the first annual Freshwater Cup football competition, which raised awareness of environmental issues among Toledo’s communities.
TIDE has received many awards including: the Equator Initiative Prize from the United Nations Development Program; the Environmental Organization of the Year Award from the Government of Belize; the Cliff Messenger Award from The
Nature Conservancy; and the Sunflower Award from Earth’s
Birthday Project in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Wil also co-founded the Tri-national Alliance for the Gulf of Honduras, which has been working
to bring organizations in Honduras, Belize, and Guatemala together in the conservation arena. While with TIDE Will held a number of offices including:
Chairman of the Board for the Centre for Employment Training in the Toledo District; Vice Chair for the Board of Directors for the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute of Belize; Co-chair, Belize Association of Private Protected Areas; and member of the Executive Committee, Government of Belize Community Forestry Initiative.
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