From a new girls’ leadership initiative in Chile, to handmade paper flowers on the streets of Prague, to a starlit celebration of Dr. Jane Goodall’s life in Puerto Rico, Roots & Shoots members around the world continue to find their own ways to take positive action for people, animals and the environment.

Chile: Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) Chile Awarded Funding to Empower Girls’ Leadership through Roots & Shoots

The Jane Goodall Institute Chile has been selected as one of the organisations to receive funding from Fundación Mujeres Bacanas. This support will enable them to implement the project “Pequeñas Líderes, Grandes Cambios” (Little Leaders, Big Changes).

The initiative aims to strengthen the confidence, leadership and participation of girls aged 6 to 11 by addressing the gender inequalities many face from an early age and empowering them to become active changemakers within their communities.

Inspired by Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots methodology and adapted to the Chilean context, the project incorporates a gender responsive approach to foster girls’ leadership through:

• Interviews with inspiring female role models
• The development of an educational toolkit for teachers
• The implementation of community projects designed and led by the girls themselves
  
  

The project will be implemented in schools across different cities in Chile, promoting gender equality from an early age by placing girls at the centre of the learning experience.

This achievement will enable JGI Chile to further strengthen Roots & Shoots Chile, expand the impact of their educational work, and integrate a gender perspective that helps empower a new generation of girls committed to creating positive change for people, animals and the environment.

Czech Republic: Bringing a Smile to Prague 9, One Paper Flower at a Time

As part of their Roots & Shoots programme in the Czech Republic, Year 2 Aqua set out to “Bring a Smile to Prague 9“. Every student made at least one handmade paper flower, then took to the streets of Prague 9 to hand them out to passers by.

Along the way, the group met plenty of lovely people, many happy to pose for photos with their new flowers. A small gesture made a big difference to people’s day, showing how even the simplest acts of kindness can ripple out into a community.

Puerto Rico: Celebration of Jane Goodall’s Life Under the Stars

Roots & Shoots USA’s Puerto Rico Basecamp gathered under the stars to celebrate Jane Goodall’s life. Jane loved nothing more than being outside, letting her curiosity for the natural world run free. In celebration of both her birthday and Earth Month in April, Roots & Shoots Puerto Rico Coordinator Carla Montalvo organised a camping weekend with Roots & Shoots groups from around the island.

Over 60 parents, teachers and students came out to honour Jane through a variety of activities, including:

• Initiating two new school groups into Roots & Shoots with a pledge, songs and gifts of colouring books and books about birds
• Learning more about Jane by watching one of her documentaries on a big screen at night
• Listening to live music by Puerto Rican artist Lizbeth Roman, who sings about the island’s resiliency
• Planting native trees, including the moca tree, which provides shade and holds Indigenous cultural significance
• Doing a bird count in Finca Higuaca to assess local biodiversity, spotting 27 species, six of which are endemic to Puerto Rico

Take Action: Join Roots & Shoots and Make a Difference

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.

Image Credits: R&S Chile / Year 2 Aqua / JGI USA | Carla Montalvo