The Jane Goodall Institute

Hello, we are The Jane Goodall Institute. We are a global organization created with a single, important purpose: to protect the natural world and all the living things that share it. Our story starts with our founder, a scientist named Dr. Jane Goodall. For many years, she lived and worked in the forests of Gombe, a special place in a country called Tanzania. There, she carefully studied wild chimpanzees, learning about their families, their behaviors, and their connection to the forest. After dedicating so much of her life to this research, she wanted to make sure it would be protected for the future. So, in 1977, she created our institute. Our first goal was to ensure that her important scientific research and conservation work would continue, helping to protect chimpanzees and the beautiful forests they call home.

As our work in Africa continued, we learned something very important. We realized that if we truly wanted to protect chimpanzees and their habitats, we couldn’t do it alone. We also needed to help the people who lived in the villages and communities near the forests. This understanding led our mission to grow. We began to focus on what we call community-centered conservation. This means we work directly with local villages to improve their lives. We partner with them on projects that help them grow food in ways that don’t harm the land, a practice called sustainable farming. We also help improve access to education for children and health care for families. We believe that when people have what they need to live healthy and secure lives, they are better able to become partners in protecting the environment. This approach helps both people and animals thrive together.

One of our most exciting ideas came to life in 1991. It all started in Tanzania with a small group of students who were talking with Dr. Goodall. They were concerned about problems they saw in the world around them and wanted to do something to make a difference. Inspired by their passion, we started a special program called Roots & Shoots. The name suggests that big things can grow from small beginnings, like a tall tree from a tiny seed. What began with just a few young people has now grown into a worldwide movement. Roots & Shoots encourages children and teenagers everywhere to look at their own communities and take action on problems they care about. Members design and lead their own projects that help in three main areas: helping people, helping animals, and helping the environment we all share.

Today, we have grown from that original mission in Gombe into a global network, with offices and team members in many different countries. Our work continues to follow the path Dr. Goodall started. We still support the long-term scientific research in Gombe, which helps us understand chimpanzees better than ever before. We also run sanctuaries that provide safe, caring homes for orphaned chimpanzees. At the same time, we continue to support our community conservation projects across Africa, working hand-in-hand with local partners. And through our Roots & Shoots program, we work to inspire hope and empower the next generation of leaders to care for our planet. We hold a strong belief that guides all of our work: that every single person, no matter how young or old, can make a positive impact on our world every single day.