The Jane Goodall Institute

Hello! We are The Jane Goodall Institute, but many people call us JGI for short. Our organization was started in 1977 by a scientist named Dr. Jane Goodall. For a long time, she wanted to create a group that could help protect the animals she loved and the beautiful world we all live in. Our mission is to understand and protect chimpanzees, who are amazing animals, and also to inspire people everywhere to conserve the natural world that we all share. We believe that when we work together, we can make a big difference for our planet.

Our story really begins with Dr. Goodall's important research in Africa. She traveled to a special place called Gombe Stream National Park in the country of Tanzania. There, she did something no one had ever done before. She spent many years living near wild chimpanzees, watching them quietly and carefully to learn about their lives. She learned how they find food, how they take care of their families, and how smart they are. We continue this important work today. In Gombe, we support the longest-running study of wild chimpanzees in the entire world! This ongoing research helps us learn new things all the time, which shows us the best ways to protect these animals and the forests they call home.

Over time, we realized something very important. To protect the chimpanzees, we also need to help the people who live in the communities nearby. When people have what they need, like healthy food and good schools, they are better able to help protect the forests and the animals who live there. We call this idea community-centered conservation. It means we work together with local villages. We help them plant new trees to regrow the forest, find ways to protect the land, and support education for children. It shows that helping people and helping animals can happen at the same time.

Sometimes, chimpanzees need extra help. Some are left without parents because of illegal hunting, and they cannot survive alone in the wild. For them, we run special safe places called sanctuaries. One of our most well-known sanctuaries is the Tchimpounga sanctuary, which is in a country called the Republic of the Congo. Here, we care for chimpanzees who have been orphaned. They get food, medical care, and a safe place to live and play with other chimpanzees. It is a home where they can heal and grow strong.

We believe that everyone, including kids, can be a part of this important work. That’s why in 1991, we started a special program called Roots & Shoots. It was created to encourage young people from all over the world to make a positive difference. Members of Roots & Shoots look around their own neighborhoods and find ways to help. They might work on projects to help people, animals, or the environment. They show that even small actions can grow into big changes, just like a small root grows into a tall tree.

Today, we work in many countries all across the globe. We continue to protect chimpanzees and their habitats, but we also work to inspire hope and action in everyone. We want people to feel powerful and know that they can help our planet. We believe that every single person, no matter how young or old, can make a positive impact on our world, every single day.