Roots & Shoots

Hello! We are The Jane Goodall Institute's Roots & Shoots program. Our story began in 1991 in a country called Tanzania. A caring and famous scientist named Dr. Jane Goodall was visiting and sat down to talk with a group of 12 local students. The students told her they were worried. They saw problems in their community and felt sad about them, but they didn't know what to do.

Dr. Goodall listened to their concerns. Together, they came up with a wonderful idea. What if they formed a group to work on these problems? They decided they could take action to make their home a better place for everyone. Their mission would be to help people, animals, and the environment all at the same time. That single meeting was the start of our entire program. From that one small group, a big idea began to grow.

Our name, Roots & Shoots, comes from the world of plants. Think about a giant tree. It starts with roots that grow deep and strong in the ground. Then, tiny green shoots push up through the soil toward the sunlight. We believe that big changes can start in the same way. A strong idea is like the roots, and the small actions you take are like the shoots. Even the smallest shoot can grow into something amazing. This idea guides everything we do. We are a youth program, which means we are made up of groups of kids and teenagers who want to make a positive difference.

Each Roots & Shoots group looks around its own neighborhood to see what help is needed. The members then choose projects that they care about. There are so many ways to help! Some of our groups decide to plant trees, which helps clean the air and gives birds a place to build nests. Other groups organize clean-up days at local parks, picking up trash to make the space beautiful and safe for people and animals. Many groups also choose to help animals by volunteering at local shelters, making sure the animals are cared for and loved.

From that first group of 12 students in Tanzania, we have grown into a global family. Today, you can find Roots & Shoots groups in countries all over the world. Even though we are in different places and work on different local problems, we are all connected. We all share the same important goal. We work to show that every single person, no matter how young, can make a difference. We believe that every single day gives us a new chance to do something good for our world.