Jane Goodall

ROOTS AND SHOOTS IS THE YOUTH ACTION PROGRAM OF THE JANE GOODALL INSTITUTE
EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE THE CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES

Roots & Shoots began in Tanzania in 1991 when a group of teenagers approached Dr. Jane Goodall with concerns about their community. Dr. Jane encouraged them to take action in their local communities. Inspired and proud of what they were achieving, she spread their stories to young people around the world who were equally eager to take action and make a difference in their own communities.

Dr. Jane Goodall, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and United Nations Messenger of Peace, is a world-renowned ethologist and activist inspiring greater understanding and action on behalf of the natural world, and ourselves.  Young people driven to take action are one of her reasons for hope, which is why she created the Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots & Shoots program.

Nowadays, the program is present in over 100 countries and has more than 1,000,000 active members. Its main purpose is to promote compassion towards all living creatures, foster understanding of different cultures and beliefs, and inspire each individual to take action to make the world a better place for animals, humans, and the environment.

In 2016, Anna Katogiriti, the first Greek veterinarian to closely collaborate with Dr. Jane Goodall, established the official office of the program in Greece under the name "Roots & Shoots Greece." Through her own initiative, two successful campaigns took place in Athens, Thessaloniki, and Crete in 2016 and 2018. Since January 2023, SciCo Greece has taken on the official representation of the Roots & Shoots program in Greece with the aim of promoting the life and work of Dr. Jane Goodall and developing the community of Roots and Shoots in our country.

So far, students have implemented the program in public schools in Athens, Karpathos, and Crete, as well as in private schools in Athens and Thessaloniki, and in some universities. In addition, over 400 educators have been informed, and 67 projects have been initiated. The youth themselves choose the projects they want to engage in, which must involve active action. The foundation of the program lies in learning through social contribution, whereby individuals become active citizens by helping to solve problems in their local communities.

If you wish to become a member of the Roots & Shoots community, you will need to identify a problem you want to address in your area using the Roots & Shoots 4-Step Formula. Then, take action! Additionally, by registering on the Roots and Shoots platform, you can share the story of your work with other young people around the world to encourage, empower, and inspire their passion for making a difference.

For more information, please contact our team via email at kyriazi@scico.gr and follow us on Facebook.