Roots & Shoots

Young People. Real Change. Global Impact.

Logo for Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots UK featuring a silhouette of a woman and children with trees and a chimpanzee in a circle.

Roots & Shoots is the global youth-led movement founded by Dr Jane Goodall in 1991. What began with a group of Tanzanian students voicing their concerns about the future of their planet has grown into a worldwide network of passionate young people leading projects that create real, meaningful change, for people, animals and the environment.

At its heart, Roots & Shoots empowers young people to believe that their ideas matter, their actions count, and their voices can shape a better world.

A group of children exploring outdoors, looking through binoculars, on a nature walk in a wooded area.

From Gombe to Global.

Roots & Shoots was born out of Jane’s belief that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow, they are the change-makers of today.

Now active in over 75 countries, the programme supports thousands of schools, colleges, universities and community groups around the world.

Through hands-on learning and action, participants identify local issues they care about and design solutions that benefit all living things. Every project, whether planting a pollinator garden, reducing plastic waste, supporting refugees, or protecting local wildlife, connects to the wider Roots & Shoots mission: to build a compassionate, sustainable future.

Roots & Shoots in the UK.

In the UK, Roots & Shoots has grown into a vibrant, nationwide movement involving hundreds of schools and youth groups. We work closely with teachers, educators and young leaders to provide support, resources and opportunities to take part in:

  • Environmental clean-ups and wildlife conservation

  • Social justice and community support projects

  • Climate education and youth activism

  • National campaigns and Roots & Shoots Awards

  • Creative storytelling, science, and sustainability projects across the curriculum

Roots & Shoots UK celebrates every win - big or small -and shines a spotlight on young people who are turning compassion into action every day.

A young boy holding a cardboard sign that reads 'TOGETHER WE CAN' in white and blue letters, standing outdoors in front of green bushes.
Students and a teacher discussing photographs of outdoor projects displayed on a board at an event.
Group of children and adults holding a large hand-drawn banner about saving palm oil and labeling palm oil already. They are in an educational setting with green walls and plant illustrations.
An elderly woman interacts with three schoolchildren, a girl with glasses and a red-haired girl in red sweaters, in an indoor setting.
Children in purple shirts gather around and hold up a large, paper-mâché effigy of a duck's head outdoors.
Two children standing next to a large handmade sign that reads 'Charity Clothes Shop on Today!' in front of a stone wall and a black iron fence outside a church building. The boy is on the left wearing a red sweater and black shorts, and the girl on
Young girl hanging paper doves and heart-shaped decorations on a rustic wooden arch outdoors, with two smiling women watching in the background.
Large group of people gathered in front of and on a wooden structure under construction outdoors, with the sky and a grassy field in the background.
Group of children and adults outdoors participating in a peace-themed event, holding a decorated peace sign made of paper and ribbon with words like 'peace,' 'happiness,' and 'Arabic' written on it.
A teacher guiding four students planting seedlings in a garden bed inside a greenhouse.
Group of elementary school children in school uniforms working on a gardening project outside on a sunny day, some holding tools and gloves. They are gathered around a pile of wood and soil near greenhouses and a brick wall.
Group of young students, teachers, and an elderly woman at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of a colorful mural with the hashtag #BETTHECHANGE and a globe, with painted rocks on the ground.

Why It Matters.

Roots & Shoots isn't a curriculum or a one-off activity. It’s a mindset. A lifelong invitation to look at the world with curiosity, empathy, and courage… and then do something about it.

As Jane says:

“Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.”

Get Involved.

Whether you're a student, teacher, parent or youth worker, there's a place for you in the Roots & Shoots family.

👉 Visit our dedicated UK Roots & Shoots website to explore projects, download resources, join the programme or get inspired by other changemakers:
🔗 www.rootsnshoots.org.uk

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