Roots & Shoots DRC – La Jeunesse Se Lève Pour Le Changement

Empowering Youth Through Environmental Education

At Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, we believe that creating a better world for people, animals, and the environment requires more than passion — it requires action, and strong and lasting partnerships.
That’s why we are so proud of our ongoing collaboration with DP World. Since 2022 Jane Goodall Institute Global has managed small internal grants that help Roots & Shoots offices and multinational teams expand their reach and impact, made possible by DP World.

Key Achievements in DRC Supported by DP World

In DRC this support has strengthened the work of the R&S team with youth and educators in the Eastern part of the country. This project  Youth Rise for Change  focuses on empowering youth to take and an active role in improving environmental conditions in their communities while learning new skills.
This support has had a big impact, enabling the Roots & Shoots DRC team to:

• Introduce community mapping and photovoice activities, empowering 150 youth to identify local concerns, share perspectives through photography, and propose solutions for positive change.
• Build leadership skills among 18 educators and two volunteer coordinators, while improving the consistency of monthly activity reporting.
• Plant 1,897 trees around schools and communities to fight erosion and reduce the negative impacts of heavy rains during the rainy season.
• Inspire more schools in Kisangani to join Roots & Shoots, growing the network of environmental clubs in the region.

Expanding the Roots & Shoots Network

One of the most inspiring outcomes of this project came from Mr. Fiston Lokonda, an active member and volunteer coordinator of Roots & Shoots DRC. He participated in training sessions on natural resource management, community mapping, and setting up Roots & Shoots clubs. Fiston shared that before joining the program, he didn’t realize the important role he has as a young person in improving his community.

Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

By combining youth empowerment with biodiversity conservation, the project has become a catalyst for change. It contributes to global goals like, including quality

• education (SDG 4)
• climate action (SDG 13)
• life on land (SDG 15)
• partnerships for the goals (SDG 17)