Roots & Shoots

Founded 1991
Founder Jane Goodall.[1]
Type Non-profit Organization
Focus Environmentalism, Conservation, Humanitarianism
Location
Origins Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Area served
 World wide
Method Networking youth, service projects, youth-led campaigns
Key people
  • Jane Goodall (Founder)
  • Adrienne Bermingham (Youth Leadership Program

Assistant)

  • Stephanie Keller (Education Projects Manager)
  • Kamilah Martin (National Program Manager)
  • Hope Martinez (Youth Leadership Council Coordinator)
  • Emily Rhodes (Community Relations Manager)
  • Shawn Sweeney (Youth Outreach and Engagement)
  • Erin Viera-Orr (National Program Director)
Slogan Knowledge, Compassion, Action
Website http://rootsandshoots.org/

Roots & Shoots was founded by Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE in 1991, with the goal of bringing together youth from preschool to university age to work on environmental, conservation and humanitarian issues.[2] The organization has local chapters in over 132 countries[3] with over 8000 local groups worldwide[4] that involve nearly 100,000[5] youth. Many of the chapters operate through schools and other organizations. Participants are encouraged to identify and work on problems in their own communities.[6] Charity Navigator, has awarded Roots & Shoots and its parent non-profit organisation, the Jane Goodall Institute, its highest four star rating for accountability and transparency with 77.7% of its expenses going directly to programs.[7]

Origin

Roots & Shoots was founded in 1991 when Dr. Goodall started to give talks at local schools in Tanzania. A group of 12 of her students selected by their classmates met with her at her home to discuss their environmental concerns and to figure out what they could do. They founded the organization and it grew from there. Of the original 12 students, one went on to serve as the minister of environment for Tanzania and another became the Roots & Shoots' national director for Tanzania.[8]

Curriculums

The Roots & Shoots curriculum is a learning programme for teachers to use with students to help them develop environmental, conservation and humanitarian programs to help students develop a sense of service and leadership in their own communities. The curriculums are split into elementary, middle and high school lesson plans. The program introduces projects as a campaign and gives resources about how to integrate it into the local community.[9]

Branches

China

China has four main Roots & Shoots branches in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Hong Kong that support over 600 primarily school groups.[10]

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Riverfield Country Day School[11] in Tulsa has implemented the Roots & Shoots program.

References

External links