At Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, we believe that lasting change begins with understanding and grows when communities come together to take action.

In Sierra Leone, Roots & Shoots is led by Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, whose work connects wildlife conservation with community engagement and education. Through the support of DP World, this work has expanded in the Kenema district, empowering young people and local communities to take action on one of the region’s most complex challenges: the wild meat trade.

As we celebrate World Chimpanzee Day this week, this project highlights how protecting wildlife is closely linked to human health and community wellbeing.

Expanding youth leadership and local engagement

With this support, Roots & Shoots Sierra Leone has strengthened its network and reach:

• 6 new Roots & Shoots school clubs established
• 3,520 people directly engaged through education and outreach
• 12 educators supporting programme delivery and sustainability

These efforts are building a strong foundation for youth-led conservation and long-term community impact.

Creating space for dialogue and understanding

At the heart of the project was a Wild meat Awareness and Conservation Workshop in Kenema — bringing together voices that are not often in the same room. (Wild meat is wild-sourced food that is an important part of local livelihoods but can also raise conservation and health challenges).

Hunters, wild meat sellers, and community members sat alongside medical professionals, legal experts, and local leaders to explore the realities of the wild meat trade. What began as a sensitive topic evolved into a constructive dialogue focused on shared solutions.

Participants discussed:

• The risks of zoonotic diseases such as Ebola and Lassa Fever
• The impact of hunting on wildlife, including chimpanzees
• Legal protections and the importance of conservation

This collective exchange helped shift perspectives from individual practices to shared responsibility.

From awareness to action

Alongside community engagement, the project focused on equipping young people to lead change within their schools and communities.

Through outreach and peer-to-peer learning:

• 3,000 students participated in awareness campaigns
• 210 youth leaders received training on conservation and zoonotic disease risks

Students are now better equipped to understand the connections between wildlife, ecosystems, and human health — and to act on them.

A locally rooted approach to conservation

By engaging communities directly involved in the wild meat trade — including women, hunters, and local households — the project acknowledges the real economic and cultural contexts behind these challenges.

Through the leadership of Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary as Roots & Shoots Sierra Leone, the project supports dialogue, awareness, and more sustainable approaches that balance conservation with community realities.

Looking ahead

This initiative demonstrates how community engagement and youth leadership can drive meaningful change for both people and wildlife.

In partnership with DP World, Roots & Shoots continues to support locally led solutions that strengthen conservation efforts while improving livelihoods and health outcomes.

Beyond this collaboration, DP World contributes globally through its education platform, offering free resources for learners and changemakers worldwide.

Image Credits: Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary