Across the Roots & Shoots network, young people and community members are taking action in ways that reflect the places they live and the challenges they face. These three stories — from France, Mali, and the Czech Republic — show the breadth of what is possible when people of all ages decide to act.
In the Corrèze region of France, a Roots & Shoots group planted over 1,000 trees last year — and brought an entire community along with them.
Working primarily with fruit and forestry species across four planting sites, the group set out to restore an ancient forest and promote local biodiversity. Alongside the planting work, they partnered with local primary schools to run workshops on climate and biodiversity, getting pupils directly involved in the restoration effort.
To fund it all, the group organised charity concerts and community fundraising appeals. The results extended well beyond the trees themselves: reforestation, healthier soils, improved water quality, and a school community newly engaged with the natural world.
The feeling among those involved? Bonheur d’agir — the joy of taking action.
In Mali, the Roots & Shoots team’s work with people this year covered a remarkable range — from market stalls in Bamako to flood-affected families, adult literacy classes, and healthy eating campaigns.
Working alongside market women, the group carried out hygiene and product cleanliness activities in Bamako’s public markets. When flooding displaced families, the team helped them relocate to safer areas. Awareness campaigns on healthy eating were run by women directly in public spaces, and more than 200 people completed adult literacy training.
The ripple effects reached beyond the projects themselves: communities reported meaningful shifts in attitudes towards human-animal relations, river protection, and care for endangered species. Ten new mentors have now been trained and are ready to expand the Roots & Shoots programme — with ambitions to grow beyond Mali into the wider region.
At Open Gate School in the Czech Republic, a Roots & Shoots group identified a quiet but significant problem: the campus bird population was being affected by a loss of insects and collisions with large windows.
The group built three bird feeders, placed strategically around the campus to provide seeds and nutrients for birds during winter. They then secured a donation to place UV stickers on the windows most responsible for bird collisions — a practical, evidence-based solution that directly addresses the cause of the problem.
A small-scale project, but one that demonstrates something important: That careful observation, practical thinking, and follow-through can produce real results for wildlife, even in an urban school setting.
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: JGI France / R&S Mali / Open Gate School
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