BURST
An update from our 2023 annual report.
Every individual can make a difference, but community is a multiplier that creates an even broader impact. Dr. Jane Goodall’s early work advocating for the protection of chimpanzees quickly revealed that local communities must be at the center of conservation efforts — who better to protect their natural resources than the people who know them best and have the most at stake?
The Jane Goodall Institute’s innovative approach to community-led conservation, which we call Tacare, ensures that we partner with and empower local communities to make conservation and sustainable development decisions that improve well-being for people, other animals, and ecosystems.
Celebrating Five More Years of Conservation in Western Tanzania
2023 marked the culmination of our 5-year Landscape Conservation in Western Tanzania (LCWT) initiative funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), as well as the start of another five years continuing this transformative work! Dr. Jane Goodall signed a new grant for $29.5 million USD marking the launch of the USAID Hope Through Action project allowing us to take our community-led conservation efforts in Western Tanzania to new levels.
We are proud to celebrate this incredible recognition for the decades of successful work being done in Tanzania in partnership with local communities to make meaningful, positive change through preserving biodiversity, providing sustainable living opportunities, supporting family-planning resources, and much more. Each and every supporter of JGI has played a crucial role in making this remarkable investment and growth possible.
Building Capacity for Women in Leadership
One way that JGI invests in the livelihoods of communities is by empowering women and girls in JGI’s target areas, who are often more directly affected by climate change and environmental degradation than men and boys due to gender inequality. Read some of their stories below!
Hellena, scholarship recipient and 2023 graduate: Hellena enrolled in the JGI scholarship program that helped pave the way for her to pursue a diploma at the College of Business Education. Through her hard work, Hellena has established herself as a role model for other young women!
Irene, girls empowerment program participant: When Irene became pregnant, she was forced to make the difficult decision to drop out of primary school. Through JGI activities, Irene was provided with scholastic materials, tutoring, and peer counseling to help her get back on track.
Marina, newest Tchimpounga park ranger: In 2023, JGI Republic of the Congo welcomed its first female park ranger to the team! There, Marina leads foot patrols through the nature reserve, searching for illegal activities and monitoring biodiversity.
Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots Youth Council
The 🔗 Roots & Shoots Youth Council USA exemplifies what it means to be a Roots & Shoots changemaker. Our youth leaders come from all around the United States, where their projects vary from bee conservation to seismic safety and everything in between. In 2023, the council gained two new members:
Loxitawny C. is focused on indigenous youth, protecting the environment and wildlife. She learned about Roots & Shoots through our partnership with Project Venture, an Indigenous-led organization that combines adventure-based and service learning with culturally based leadership. For Loxitawny, the RSYC Summit each summer is a “gathering of changemakers that soon will make a life-changing impact on the world.”
Jessie W. is focused on learning garden, beach clean-ups, and composting drop-off. She was first introduced to Roots & Shoots through her on-campus club, and she now serves as president. In 2023, Jessie led her Roots & Shoots club in many projects, including a recycled art gala and a learning garden for a local elementary school. Jessie says, “I want to be like Jane when I grow up.”
Roots & Shoots Propagates through Africa
Our Roots & Shoots colleagues across Tanzania, Uganda, the Republic of the Congo (RoC), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have been busy this year!
In Goma, DRC, Roots & Shoots volunteer coordinator David Kithi led a group of local teachers through conservation training to combat climate change. His efforts have transformed how climate change is taught in 18 Roots & Shoots clubs across Goma.
Jane Goodall’s Pugu Nature Center in Tanzania held a nature camp for three Roots & Shoots student clubs. Through interactive games and collaborative group activities, students learned about the human impacts on their environment and were inspired to be eco-conscious citizens.
In Uganda, Roots & Shoots activities were rooted in four districts at the beginning of 2023. We are proud to report that by the end of 2023, with the help of 17 dedicated district volunteer coordinators, we expanded our Roots & Shoots footprint to 13 additional districts!
The Roots & Shoots Zanzibar Scholarship Program awarded scholarships to 25 Roots & Shoots college and university students from the Unguja and Pemba islands of Zanzibar! Access to further education is paving the way to a brighter future for conservation practices.
We have so many more stories to tell from this year! Explore our full 🔗 2023 annual report PDF to read stories of community land-use mapping, meet our Roots & Shoots Basecamp coordinators, get inspired with Roots & shoots projects around the US, and celebrate our exciting youth events with Toyota Motor North America.
Photo credits, in order of appearance: Jane Goodall Institute, Picasa, JGI/LJ Garcia
The post The Jane Goodall Institute’s Impact: The Power of Community appeared first on Jane Goodall's Good for All News.