Around the world, Roots & Shoots members are proving that meaningful change starts with noticing what is needed close to home. Three projects, from an underwater clean up in Australia to bird conservation in Taiwan and inclusive arts programmes in the USA, show just how varied that action can look.
At Gunnamatta Bay in New South Wales, 44 people came together with one question in mind: What can we do, right now, for our oceans? Scuba divers, ocean researchers and young Roots & Shoots members suited up and got to work, finding rubbish caught between rocks, fishing wire twisted around coral, and even bicycles resting on the seafloor.
Through the One Dive at a Time project, the group removed almost 15 kilograms of marine debris, making the bay safer for every creature living in it, including the delicate local seahorses.
A Roots & Shoots group in Taiwan spent time getting to know one of their local coastal residents: The little tern. Through a dedicated course at the Hsinchu Xiangshan Wetland Marine Education Center, children learned about the bird’s behaviour patterns, migration routes, preferred food and living environment. They then shared this knowledge with others at the centre, working together to protect the species.
Before the course, the children had no knowledge of the little tern at all. By the end, they understood not just what the bird needs, but how they themselves can help protect it.
Members of Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots Youth Council USA are showing that art can be a universal language. At a local community festival, Emma H.’s Bracelets for the Environment project invited young people to make wearable art while learning about the environment. Children selected beads in different colours based on which part of the environment they wanted to protect, such as water, trees or flowers, while Emma explained the role each plays in maintaining a healthy planet.
Matthew M. is determined to help everyone experience the healing power of music. He created toolkits that include accessible instruments, sensory friendly art materials and simple guides to help local caregivers and educators engage students with needs such as sensory regulation and communication support.
Sidak C. noticed that her school had inclusive sports programmes for students with disabilities, but nothing similar in the arts. Working closely with classmates and teachers, she created a series of dance, singing and acting workshops for students with disabilities, culminating in a final performance on stage.
Whether underwater, in a wetland or on a stage, these projects share the same starting point: Young people paying attention to the world around them and deciding to act.
Find your local Roots & Shoots office and take action today.
Image Credits: JGI Australia / JGI Taiwan / JGI USA
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