Roots & Shoots inspires students to create positive change in local communities
CALGARY, Nov. 5, 2014 /CNW/ - The Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) of Canada is launching the first Roots & Shoots program to be taught in every class throughout an elementary school. While Roots & Shoots has been implemented in hundreds of individual classrooms across the country, this is the inaugural version of a "whole school" initiative.
Jen Duffy, JGI Canada's Education Manager, is leading a workshop on November 7 for nearly 40 teachers at Calgary's Westmount Elementary Charter School where the innovative program will be rolled out. Ms Duffy will be guiding teachers through JGI's four-step program, which helps students develop conservation approaches to better understand the interconnections between people, animals and the environment in their own community.
"We're incredibly excited to be piloting this initiative in Calgary," says Ms. Duffy. "People here have been extremely supportive of our work."
In addition to learning about their surroundings in much more depth, every child from Kindergarten to Grade 4 at Westmount will choose a project to work on over the course of the school year that addresses a local concern for people, animals and the environment.
Adds Ms Duffy, "Roots & Shoots builds on JGI's principles of working with communities, which has been integral to the success of our conservation projects in African countries. We've used that model to motivate students to make a difference in the places where they live – really, it's a message of empowerment for the next generation of decision makers."
At the end of the school year, renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall will visit Westmount to speak to the school and see the completed projects first hand.
"Roots & Shoots is a perfect fit with our work at Westmount," says Colleen Groot, Assistant Principal of Westmount Charter School. "Our students have such wonderful potential, and we believe this partnership will benefit everyone as we move towards making the world a better place."
The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada was founded in 1994 and is part of a dynamic network of Jane Goodall Institutes around the world. JGI supports habitat conservation and chimpanzee protection programs in Africa and runs Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots here in Canada – a powerful, global program that inspires youth to be active citizens who can take action to create positive change.
For more information visit www.janegoodall.ca/rootsandshoots
Image with caption: "Jane Goodall Institute of Canada (CNW Group/Jane Goodall Institute of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141105_C4034_PHOTO_EN_7512.jpg
SOURCE: Jane Goodall Institute of Canada
For media inquiries, contact: Jen Duffy, Education Manager at JGI Canada, 1 647. 208.4758, [email protected]