'Roots and Shoots' Sprouts in Santa Barbara

A Chinese mystical proverb reminds us that “all great journeys begin with a single step.” For Jane Goodall, the renowned primatologist, environmentalist and humanitarian, that step occurred in 1991 as she sat on her back porch in Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania, with a group of 16 local teenagers. It was here that the impetus for a grassroots global network aimed at empowering young people to make positive changes on behalf of animals, people, and the environment began to sprout. The group discussed serious issues affecting the planet such as pollution, deforestation, domestic animal welfare, and the future of wild animals, including Goodall’s beloved chimpanzees, whom she has studied for the past several decades.

Goodall was impressed by the teens’ passion, compassion, and enthusiasm and by their desire to develop creative solutions to problems that plague our planet. Although Dr. Goodall was involved in those early meetings, the project really was propelled forward by the teenagers. It wasn’t long before they formed the first-ever Roots & Shoots project and began educating villagers about the humane treatment of chickens at home and in the region’s markets. Roots & Shoots soon became a program of the Jane Goodall Institute and its mission adheres to the belief that youngsters—when encouraged and inspired—can make a difference; indeed, they can change the world.

Today, Roots & Shoots, which has thousands of chapters in more than 100 countries around the world, connects youth of all ages who share a common desire to help make the world a better place. Both young people and adults join together to share ideas and inspiration, and implement community service projects in a fun, flexible and supportive environment. Any project that helps people or domestic animals, preserves wild animal habitats, or improves the environment meets the goals of Roots & Shoots. The Peace Doves Project, for instance, is held each year on September 21 in support of the United Nations International Day of Peace. Young people rally in support of a peaceful planet by crafting Giant Peace Dove Puppets from reused materials and flying the doves in their communities. According to the Roots & Shoots Web site: “From the high peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro to the low plains of Kansas, Peace Doves fly, held high by hopeful hands.”

In addition to the Peace Doves Project, which helps people by promoting peace, many R&S groups from across the United States lend a helping hand by collecting clothing and shoes for orphans, stitching dolls for needy, sick children in hospitals, and visiting the elderly in nursing homes.

Roots & Shoots also has many programs aimed at helping the environment. Projects range from the simple:  recycling a family’s trash, to the sophisticated: organizing an event to clean up a park or beach. A popular environmental project is the R&S Reusable Bag Campaign, which uses bags made from 100% recycled water bottles and seeks to raise awareness of the problems that plastic bags cause to the environment. A group of schoolchildren in Mariposa, California took on this project by decorating 80 donated canvas bags using crayons and covered their finished designs with parchment paper and pressed them with a hot iron to make the color permanent. (Being craft-challenged myself, I thought this was a very cool—and colorful—idea!) The class is now selling the bags in a local health food store and a drug store owned by the father of one of the members. Another group from Southern California promoted eco-friendly cleaning by making their own all-purpose cleaner. Here’s the recipe in case you’d like to whip up a batch in your own kitchen:

ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER

WHAT YOU NEED:

·   Baking soda

·   Vinegar

·    Water

WHAT TO DO:

Mix 2 tbsp. baking soda with 1 pint warm water; put in spray bottle. Add a splash of vinegar to cut grease.

And then there’s the animal component (my specialty!) of the R&S program. This fall, I have the privilege of heading up the newly-formed Roots & Shoots program at Montecito Union School . The children, ages 9-11 will begin the 8-week class by researching several local animal welfare organizations on the Internet. Once they’ve chosen a group to support, we’ll take a field trip to the organization’s facility to learn more about its history, mission, wish list, and goals. Then the real fun begins as we don our thinking caps and brainstorm with one another about innovative ways to raise much-needed funds and awareness for the organization. Who knows, the kids may decide to have a car wash, knit blankets for shelter animals (note to self: learn to frog and purl by next week!) or write a fundraising letter and send it to their friends and family. At the end of the semester, we’ll present our adopted organization with a check for the funds we raised from our community of generous donors (hint, hint!).

The children are our future and it behooves us all to support them in projects that seek to engage, empower, and educate. Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots program is an important first step.

###

Kids of all ages are welcome to learn more about Roots & Shoots by attending the Fall Fox Festival (sponsored by Save Our Species Roots & Shoots Group of Ventura ) at the Santa Barbara Zoo on Sunday, October 5^th. Email Karen at karenleestevens@cox.net for more information. Donations can be made to Montecito Union School, 385 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara, CA  93108, Attn: Kathy Kelley, After School Program Director (be sure to mark “Roots & Shoots” on the check).

---

By Karen Lee Stevens,
Founder & President, ALL FOR ANIMALS, Inc.
Copyright © 2008. All Rights Reserved.

---

Return to Karen Lee's Home Page
Return to the ALL FOR ANIMALS Home Page