In Austria, Roots & Shoots students transformed their own school into a haven for wildlife, blending classroom learning with direct action. A dedicated “Nature Corner” gave students books, learning materials, and aquariums and terrariums, bringing wildlife learning directly into their daily school lives and fostering a deeper connection with animals and their needs.
That connection became hands-on in the classroom itself. Twice, rescued tadpoles found a temporary home there, cared for by students as they developed into frogs. Caterpillars were raised and observed as they transformed into butterflies, supported by plants the children grew themselves.
The project extended outdoors too, with six visits to the forest focused on trees, insects, birds, animal tracks, and native wildlife, alongside a guided educational visit to the Alpine Zoo that deepened students’ understanding of wildlife conservation. Back at school, students built insect hotels, planted flowering plants to support pollinators, and created clay bee nests, essential habitats for wild bees and other insects, and a direct contribution to local biodiversity.
In San Luis Potosí, the Roots & Shoots group Siinan Soluciones Sostenibles has spent the past period building environmental awareness across communities through workshops, community activities, reforestation, forest surveys, and educational materials: with a particular focus on water culture, biodiversity, and community participation.
Working with institutions including the Comisión Estatal del Agua, the group has expanded its reach through audiovisual and teaching materials designed for both educational and community use. Their reforestation and forest survey work has fed directly into ecological restoration processes on the ground, connecting environmental education with measurable conservation outcomes.
Siinan Soluciones Sostenibles describes itself as being in a period of expansion, growing from workshops and outreaches into a larger-scale conservation and environmental management programme.
In 2025, Roots & Shoots Türkiye teamed up with the Yuva Association and Istanbul Technical University’s Sustainability Office to deliver Environmental and Marine Literacy Training with a particular focus on the Black Sea.
The training was delivered by Roots & Shoots Türkiye members who had themselves previously completed a trainer training programme, extending the reach of environmental and marine literacy through a “train the trainer” model. The project strengthened participants’ knowledge and awareness of marine and terrestrial ecosystems and the human impacts on them, promoting environmentally responsible attitudes and practices.
By strengthening environmental and marine literacy, the project supported more informed and responsible attitudes towards environmental protection and encouraged long-term stewardship of natural resources. Participants came away with increased knowledge and confidence to share what they had learned, strengthening their capacity to act as educators and advocates for environmental protection.
If you feel motivated by these stories, you can be part of this global movement.
Find your local Roots & Shoots office and take action today—by joining a group or starting your own. Together, we can build a more compassionate and sustainable world.
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