Roots & Shoots
Dr. Jane Goodall
30
COUNTRIES
8000
GROUPS GLOBALLY
What is Roots & Shoots?
Roots & Shoots (R&S) is a global environmental, animal welfare, and humanitarian youth outreach programme in 110 countries. R&S empowers young people to do their part in solving human, animal welfare, and environmental problems in their communities.
R&S gives the younger generation a platform to help solve problems around them through projects incorporating leadership and project management skills. This gives the young individuals confidence as they realise that they can make a positive difference to people, animals and the environment and, ultimately, the planet.
As a unique global youth network, R&S offers local students access to an international web of like-minded young people. The R&S groups in Singapore have the chance to connect with 8000 other groups around the world to share their experiences and build partnerships through cultural exchange.
Using Roots & Shoots to Deliver Singapore Ministry of Education’s Values in Action (VIA)
VIA is a learning experience that is part of the Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) and aims to help students become socially responsible citizens by stepping forward and taking ownership of their contributions to the community.
The philosophy of VIA is aligned with what R&S stands for, with both aiming to nurture young people to play an active role in identifying issues and taking steps to contribute to the community. In 2015, MOE agreed that R&S is a tool that schools can use to deliver VIA.
If you have specific questions about how your school can use R&S to deliver VIA, please get in touch with us.
Want to start a Roots & Shoots group?
“Starting the Ci Yuan Roots & Shoots Group has been an amazing experience. Roots & Shoots certainly lives up to its mission of empowering youths to make a difference to the world we live in. Apart from providing our team with advice in planning and implementing our community projects, the Roots & Shoots programme has also exposed us to issues beyond our shores through its global network of youth organisations. Our involvement with Roots & Shoots has strengthened our belief that “the power of youth is global”, and we are definitely looking forward to bringing advocacy to greater heights in the years to come!“ – Ci Yuan Roots & Shoots Community Group
Whether you’re a teacher or student, we can help you start an R & S group, and guide you along the way in identifying projects to work on and managing your projects. Get in touch with us and we’ll help get you started. You can also visit our global R&S website. But first, why don’t you have a look at some projects that other Roots & Shoots groups have done over the years.
The RGS Monkey Business team has been promoting the understanding of Singapore’s native long-tailed macaques since 2008. Their goal is to achieve a cohesive and harmonious environment, for both people and macaques. The team recognises the pressing need for the public to understand, respect, and coexist with the monkeys through education.
The Singapore American School’s SAVE (Students Against Violation of the Environment) Club regularly escorts visually-handicapped people along Pulau Ubin’s Sensory Trail, a nature walk specifically conceived to give the visually-impaired a chance to experience nature. Developed in 1995, and formally adopted by SAVE and SAVH (the Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped) in 2000, the philosophy behind the Sensory Trail is that:
The banded leaf monkey, native to Singapore, may just be the nation’s best-kept secret – so well kept, that many are unaware of its critically endangered status. Fewer than 40 of these banded leaf monkey are left in Singapore’s Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
RSYU also reached out to Singapore’s youth via social media, and within 10 weeks, their facebook page and twitter account garnered over 400 likes and 100 followers, respectively. The campaign actively engaged these youths in spreading the message of conservation.
Another R & S initiative is the Ambassadors for Nature programme that was launched in collaboration with Nparks. This service learning programme is for students interested in nature conservation and biodiversity. By combining community service and scientific surveys, students can focus on critical & reflective thinking, as well as personal & civic responsibility.