We want to connect our viewers to the animals and ecosystems that make our shows happen. That’s why at Love Nature we’re making a difference by donating part of your—and every other viewer’s—Love Nature app subscription sale to charities at the forefront of conservation and environment focused initiatives worldwide.
The Jane Goodall Institute is one such organisation, and one of our official charity partners. That’s why we’re excited to share the latest update on some of the excellent work they’ve been doing, getting the youth of today interested and passionate about saving the world.
Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots programme
“The Move Mountains fundraising project from JAGS is one of the most innovative and successful Roots & Shoots projects I have seen. The girls have demonstrated through sheer resourcefulness, determination, hard work and commitment that not only can one make a difference every day, but that one can make a difference that can have a huge impact on the vulnerable aspects of our environment and humanity”.
Tara Golshan, Executive Director.
Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots is about positive change—for our communities, for animals and for the environment. With tens of thousands of young people in over 130 countries, the Roots & Shoots network branches out across the globe, connecting youth of all ages who share a common desire to help make our world a better place. This powerful, youth-driven network fosters a fun, flexible and supportive environment where young people come together to share ideas and inspiration, implement successful community service projects and participate in special events and international campaigns.
Roots & Shoots is guided by the founding principles and extraordinary vision of Dr Jane Goodall, renowned ethologist, environmentalist and humanitarian. Her firm belief that young people, when informed and empowered, can indeed change the world, is at the very heart of our programme. Dedicated to inspiring tomorrow’s leaders today not only motivates young people to learn about pertinent issues facing our local and international communities, but helps them actually design, lead and implement their own projects as a means of solving them.
With Roots & Shoots, there are no rigid requirements and no limit to the imagination. The projects that groups design are fun for all involved, and the tools and resources that Roots & Shoots provides are easily applicable.
Here is an amazing example of a fundraising activity organised by Year Six school girls from James Allen’s Girls School in Dulwich, London, described by one of the initiators:
‘Our “Moving Mountains” campaign was our main school project. Two earthquakes hit Nepal last year and my school decided to raise the height of Mount Everest in pounds—£8,848 to help the Nepalese people whose homes had been destroyed.
We all worked together as a team to try and raise the target. As a school we had a sponsored lapathon, where we had to run six times round our very large field. We also sold cakes and plastic wristbands, embossed with the logo ‘Move Mountains!’
A few of us, arranged a music assembly for our year, and parents were asked to donate.
Elsewhere in the school, there were hundreds of different initiatives from lots of girls. From busking on the piano in Herne Hill station, to organising packed lunches for the year group trip, and from arranging a fabulous garden party with face painting and bouncy castles, to lemonade stalls, brownie sales, jumble sales, helping out at home, swimathons and selling cakes at Dad’s office; Everyone did their bit. In the end we managed to raise a mountainous £22,000…. that’s a lot!
This money has gone to help rebuild a school in Deurali, near Kathmandhu, Nepal. We have also been able to buy each of the 47 children at the school an umbrella (for the monsoon season), a pencil case full of stuff, a hygiene kit each and school bags with books. Our school is now trying to raise money to buy each of the children a full school uniform. So far we have bought 21 uniforms—we are going to keep working hard to buy even more!’
Written By Beatrice Quin, James Allen’s Girls School
This fantastic project also won the Most Outstanding Group Award at the Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots Awards 2016. For more information, please visit www.rootsnshoots.org.uk.