Local Projects

Gardens of Hope

With the support of a Grant from DP World, Roots & Shoots South Africa worked with 120 primary school students and 12 university student volunteers to create and support three sustainable food gardens in schools in the communities of Kanyamazane, Kabokweni and Msholozi in Mpumalanga.

Over 40+ workshops, in which students actively helped create the gardens, connected growing food with broader environmental and conservation issues, including climate change, animal welfare, indigenous crops, soil health, and biodiversity.

Download the Gardens of Hope Curriculum

The food gardens support feeding schemes at the schools and vulnerable families. Students also gained skills in saving seeds, planting and composting to grow gardens at home.

Thanks to funding from DP World, schools were provided with sustainable upgrades to water infrastructure, tools and materials to create the gardens.

“The project really succeeded in getting learners involved and excited. They weren't just watching, they were digging, planting, and asking questions. Before, I thought of environmental action as big and distant, but now I see that small gardens at schools can teach kids about sustainability, food security, and teamwork. Its change from the ground up."

- Tintsoalo Mazibila

University of Mpumalanga Roots & Shoots Volunteer

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The Roots & Shoots permaculture garden at Chimp Eden continues to thrive! We’ve been feeding the soil with compost made on site and recently harvested an abundance of brinjals, carrots and cabbages for our chimpanzees to munch on🐵🥕

#rootsandshoots #chimpeden #sustainablefoodsystems #harvest

Roots & Shoots South Africa and Chimp Eden are proud to mentor and work with university students interested in careers in conservation, community and environmental fields. 🪴🐵

Hear from our two current interns, Mimi and Nonophela:

“I’m Aphelele Tibiyane, but I go by Mimi. I’m a Tshwane University of Technology ecotourism student who is enthusiastic about sustainability and wildlife protection. I had the good fortune to work as an intern at Roots & Shoots and Chimp Eden, where I am gaining practical knowledge of conservation and chimpanzee rehabilitation. Being able to help conserve these amazing animals and their environments has been a dream come true. Inspired by Dr. Jane Goodall’s legacy, I am thankful for the chance to be a member of a community that is changing the world.”

“My name is Nonophela Innocent Titshala, a nature conservation student at the University of Mpumalanga, who is passionate about wildlife conservation and community empowerment. I am happy to share my experience as a Chimp Eden intern, as it has been a dream come true. This opportunity has been invaluable, bridging theoretical knowledge with practical conservation efforts. My interest in joining Roots & Shoots and Chimp Eden is to gain a deeper understanding of the primate’s behaviour and to reinforce my dedication to protecting our planet’s wildlife, by being involved in sanctuary management, dietary care and behavioural observation of rescued chimps. So far, I have been involved in some educational initiatives involving people and the environment, which enhanced my patience, environmental awareness and practical skills for a career in conservation biology.”

#rootsandshoots #youthinconservation #environmentaleducation #chimpeden #sustainabilityinaction

What will you do this May to make a difference for people, animals and our environment? This month’s Good All Year calendar has 31 ideas for compassionate, every day actions. See how many you can do!

#RootsandShoots #inspirehopethroughaction #goodallyear #compassionatechange

As part of the 35-year anniversary of Roots & Shoots this year, we’re excited to be participating in the Tag the World Challenge! 🌍🇿🇦

Hear from Grade 6 learners in the Roots & Shoots group at Boschrand Primary School in Mpumalanga, South Africa about some of the projects they’ve led and participated in recently 🌱

Thanks Roots & Shoots in Argentina for tagging us. Roots & Shoots in Germany, we can’t wait to see what you’re up to! 👀💚

#tagtheworld #inspirehopethroughaction #RootsandShoots

The Boschrand Primary School Roots & Shoots group made a difference this Earth Day by planting 34 indigenous and fruit trees and picking up 28 bags of litter 🚮🌍

A big thank you to our partners, Child Welfare White River and The Power of 8000 who bought their teams to take action, and The Lowveld National Botanical Garden which donated 15 beautiful trees 🌳🌳 Thank you to the City of Mbombela Municipality for providing a skip. Working together on local actions is how we make a better world!

#earthdayaction #youthforsustainability #treeplanting

Next week, on April 22nd, it’s Earth Day! How will you and your community take action? 🌍🤲

Here are some ideas for educators and volunteers using the Roots & Shoots 4 Step Process to be inspired, observe, take action and celebrate this Earth Day 🌿💚

#earthday #rootsandshoots #janegoodall #hopeintoaction

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” — Dr Jane Goodall

Today, on her birthday, we celebrate Dr Jane Goodall. Jane was remarkable scientist, activist, conservationist and inspiration to thousands of young people around the world. Her discoveries about the complex lives of chimpanzees forever changed the world and how we understand our place in it. Her many decades of advocacy have helped protect endangered species, give communities power in conservation areas, reduced the impacts of climate change and given young people the perspective they need to change the world.

Thank you, Jane! 💚

📸
1: Paul Swen
2: Auckland Zoo
3: David Montejano

#JaneGoodallDay #RootsandShoots #ChimpEden #Makeadifference

Tomorrow, 3 April 2026, is what would have been Jane Goodall’s 92nd birthday 🌿 It is also the very first official Jane Goodall Day!

Every year on this day, people around the world will come together to take action in Jane’s name to make our communities and planet better for people, animals and our shared environment 🌍

JGI South Africa is marking the day with 92 trees planted in honour of Dr Jane 🌱 Recently, Roots & Shoots volunteers and supporters of Chimp Eden gathered at the sanctuary to honour Jane, and many guests took home a small indigenous tree to plant in their gardens, streets, parks and schools.

Will you join JGI South Africa in celebrating the legacy of Dr Jane ? 💚

Choose an action — big or small — that’s meaningful to you and makes a positive difference. Pick up litter on your street, donate food to an animal shelter, help a neighbour, choose plant-based meals. The best way to celebrate Jane is to take action.

Make a donation to the Jane Goodall Institute South Africa to help us continue to act on Jane’s legacy by caring for rescued chimpanzees and inspiring the next generation to act for hope. Go to our website to donate.

And finally, tell us: what does Dr Jane’s legacy mean to you? Share your reflections and using the hashtag #JaneGoodallDay

#RootsandShoots #ChimpEden

In the lead up to the first official Jane Goodall Day on April 3rd, we are so excited to launch Roots & Shoots South Africa’s Good All Year Calendar! 📆🦎🌿🦜🐾

Created with ideas from our volunteers and members across the country, it’s full of small actions you can take every day to connect with animals and nature and understand the people and cultures around us. If you’re an educator or volunteer, share these ideas with the young people you work with.

If you take some of the actions in the calendar, send us a message or photo! 📸

Thank you to all our volunteers who contributed ideas and to @rootsandshootstr and @rootsandshoots for inspiring us to make our own version of the calendar.

DM us to add ideas for every day actions for future month’s calendars 💓

#goodallyear #rootsandshoots #everyonematters #everydayaction

Check out these chimp portraits created by our Roots & Shoots group at Boschrand Primary School! 🐵 🎨After visiting Chimp Eden last year to observe and learn about the chimps, they created these charcoal drawings of all the chimps in Group 1 💚 The drawings were exhibited as part of recent celebrations for the legacy of Dr Jane Goodall and 20 years of Chimp Eden.

#roootsandshoots #chimpeden #learningthroughart

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Chimp Eden and the life and legacy of Dr Jane Goodall, we painted this mural at the sanctuary! 💚🌿🐵 Thank you to all the volunteers, interns and staff who helped us make it so vibrant.

On 28 February, we closed off our celebrations of 35 years of Roots and Shoots with an eco-brick making day in Diepsloot to turn plastic waste into a permanent community resource. 🌱💚

Working hand-in-hand with the @earthlytouchfoundation, volunteers and partners, we crafted 30 eco-bricks that will be used for:
- Early Childhood Development (ECD) center 🏫
- Education hub for extra lessons 🧪
- Vocational center for skills development 🛠️

By repurposing plastic, we aren't just fighting climate change - we're building a sustainable future. To finish the day, every participant signed their brick, symbolising a legacy that will stand in this community forever. 💚

@rootsandshootsglobal
#rootsandshoots
#rootsandshoots35
#rootsandshootssa

March is National Water Month in South Africa 🩵💧

Too many communities struggle without reliable access to clean water. Water impacts every part of life, our health, ability to grow food and sustain life.

Roots & Shoots SA is proud to help expand access to water in the communities we work with 🩵 thanks to the support of a grant from @dpworld, we recently upgraded the water infrastructure at three schools by installing a rainwater harvesting system, setting up water tanks and expanding plumbing. This water has helped our food gardens at the schools thrive 🌱🍅

#watermonth #rootsandshoots #communitygardens

Help raise funds for Roots & Shoots through Woolworths MyDifference! Download the Woolies App and, join MyDifference and choose Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots as your beneficiary in the My Causes hub. Scan your MyDifference card on the Woolies app every time you shop to continue to support us, at no cost to you. It’s important to search for our full name, Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots to find us on the app.

#JaneGoodallsRootsAndShoots #WooliesMyDifference

“I like to envision the whole world as a jigsaw puzzle... If you look at the whole picture, it is overwhelming and terrifying, but if you work on your little part of the jigsaw and know that people all over the world are working on their little bits, that’s what will give you hope.” - Dr Jane Goodall 🧩💚🌍

This morning Roots & Shoots volunteers gathered at Melville Koppies Nature Reserve in Joburg to celebrate 35 years since Dr Jane Goodall started our movement🌱 It was a busy and rewarding day!

We created a time capsule for 5 years into the future 🕰️
Built a jigsaw puzzle based on Dr Jane’s quote and shared what each of our puzzle pieces are 🧩
Learned about local ecology, river health and citizen science 🧪🍃
Helped to look after the nature reserve by clearing alien invasive vegetation 🪏

A big thank you to the Friends of Melville Koppies, who hosted us and guided us through this remarkable nature reserve 🌿@melvillekoppies

#hopeinaction #rootsandshoots #thankyoujane #35years

It’s celebration time at Roots & Shoots South Africa! 💚🥳

As our DP World Gardens of Hope project wraps up this month, we held gatherings to recognise all the hard work our Roots & Shoots youth have put into creating their school food gardens 🥕🍅🌽

Through planting, composting, saving seeds and caring for their soil, they’ve learned that even small actions can make a big difference. As the gardens keep growing, the students will too! Through Roots & Shoots they are becoming environmental champions in their communities 🌱

The celebrations were also a chance to appreciate all the teachers and volunteers who supported the young people in leading their garden projects. Their guidance has helped turn ideas into something real and lasting 💚

Here’s to the next season of growth! 🌍✨

#rootsandshoots #gardensofhope #communityaction

Do you want to join a movement of young people around the world inspired by Dr Jane Goodall to take action to make communities better for people animals and the environment?

Roots & Shoots is for you! 🌱 this month in Joburg, we’re hosting two volunteer events for you to get engaged and active making a difference.

RSVP to join! We’re excited to see you there 🌍💚

Roots & Shoots turns 35 this week! 🌱

We’re highlighting the awesome work of our Boschrand Primary School group in Mpumalanga, South Africa 🇿🇦 who have created a school vegetable garden 🥕🌽 and rainwater harvesting system 💧 while learning about animal welfare 🐾, climate change 🌍 and other environmental issues. They have done an amazing job, showing how we can put hope into action and inspire others.

A big thank you to @dpworld who provided a grant to make this project possible 💚

#ThankYouJane #RootsandShoots #rootsandshoots #RootsandShoots35 #HopeInAction

Recycle plastic that would otherwise be thrown away by making ecobricks! ♻️🗑️

#ecobricks #community #rootsandshoots #earthlytouchfoundation #jacksonsrealfoodmarket

This February, Roots & Shoots turns 35 🧁💚 and we want you to join us to celebrate!

Back in 1991, on her front porch in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Dr Jane Goodall and a group of young people started Roots & Shoots. Today, we’re proud to be a movement of young changemakers around the world making a difference for people, animals and the environment. Roots & Shoots is hosting some exciting events to put hope into action!

Everyone is welcome to join any of the events, whether you’re new to Roots & Shoots and want to learn more, or you’re a member who’s been volunteering for years. Spread the news and help us reach more people!

🌳Sat 21 Feb Gauteng Volunteer Gathering at Melville Koppies —> RSVP to Maru required: 072 723 9256, groups@rootsandshoots.org.za

🏠 Sat 28 Feb Make Ecobricks and Support Community Gardens in Diepsloot with @earthlytouchfoundation —> RSVP to Kayla required: 060 506 5016

Image 1: Mark Maglio
Others: Jane Goodall Institute South Africa

This #InternationalDayofEducation, we’re celebrating the impact the Jane Goodall Institute South Africa, Chimp Eden and Roots & Shoots has had in teaching young people about chimpanzees, other animals, and the environment.

Every year, our outreach and education programmes reach thousands of people, inspiring curiosity, compassion, and a deeper understanding of the natural world. Education and understanding are at the heart of everything we do.

Dr Jane said it best: “Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help shall all be saved.”

#janegoodallinstitute #rootsandshoots #environmentaleducation #conservationeducation

Roots & Shoots South Africa is so proud of the amazing impact for people, animals and the environment made by our groups and volunteers in 2025 🌱🦎💚 From community food gardens, to clean ups to ecobrick making, in ways big and small, they show how young people can lead positive change!

You can read our full impact on the R&S SA website, linked in our bio.

#rootsandshoots #hopeintoaction #animalspeopleenvironment

When Dr Jane Goodall named Roots & Shoots, she showed us that even the tiniest seedling can grow into a mighty tree 🌱🌳 Every action matters when it counts towards changing the world!

In 2026, what seeds of hope and change are you planting? How can we support each other to help small actions grow into a strong, thriving forest?

📸 Roy Borghouts

#rootsandshoots #janegoodall #communityaction #naturematters #smallactionsbigimpact

2025 has been a year of changes at Roots & Shoots South Africa. This year will always be marked by losing our beloved Dr Jane. We will always carry her in our hearts and in our actions to make the world a better place for people, animals and the environment 💚

Our impact grew stronger this year thanks to the amazing volunteers, interns, students and teachers who make Roots & Shoots the remarkable movement of hopeful, purposeful young change makers it is 🌱

R&S South Africa will be closed for the holidays from today until the 7th of January. We wish everyone a restful end of the year and a gentle, compassionate 2026 🐾💫

This #InternationalAnimalRightsDay, we’re highlighting ways to help protect animal’s rights to a safe environment. Say NO to fireworks and have a look at our tip sheet to look after your pets on days like New Years Eve 🐕❤️

This recent chimp tour and scavenger hunt sparked curiosity and compassion for our Roots & Shoots youth! They had the excellent questions, everything from “Do chimpanzees bath?” to “How do chimps talk to each other?” The scavenger hunt was a real success with students learning to identify 15 plant, insect and mammals in the Umhloti Nature Reserve surrounding Chimp Eden. The day helped the kids connect with nature and animals and grow their passion to help protect all life!

Thank you @dpworld for making this project possible 💚🐵

#rootsandshoots #chimpeden #environmentaleducation #janegoodall #learningfromnature #biodiversity

Learning about animals by making art! 🫟 🐾

As part of our Gardens of Hope project, Roots & Shoots SA is teaching young people about the importance of biodiversity and looking after animals. Recently, artist Tamar Mason led a clay workshop with Roots & Shoots youth at the Teka Takho Disabled Care Centre were everyone carefully bought their favourite creatures to life in clay. The tactile, accessible nature of clay meant that everyone enjoyed and learned from the day.

In Kanyamazane, Mpumalanga, this community of small-scale farmers has an extraordinary ability to grow abundant crops with limited resources while looking after local rivers and the environment.

Many of these farmers have decades of experience and many generations of knowledge. Since earlier this year, when Roots & Shoots South Africa started to source seedlings grown by them to plant in school gardens, we have been working to develop reciprocity with them in a shared effort to strengthen local food security and help pass on indigenous knowledge.

Roots & Shoots SA has donated tools and supplies of the farmers’ choosing, including watering cans, seeds, garden forks and organic fertiliser. Thanks to the support from B10 Char, we have also provided almost 5 tonnes of biochar to both enrich soils and help fight climate change.

In turn, the farmers have been teaching Roots & Shoots students from nearby Vulamasango Primary School about food gardening as part of our DP World Gardens of Hope project.

#ingenerationallearning #communityagriculture #permaculture #rootsandshoots

What does your piece of this great big jigsaw puzzle look like? 🧩💗

Dr Jane always reminded us that each of us makes a difference every day. All together, the difference we make adds us to be the changes we need to look after people, the planet and everyone living being we share it with 🌍

#drjanegoodall #everyonematters #localaction #rootsandshoots

🪲🪰🦋 Don’t worry, these giant flying bugs aren’t coming for you!

This is just our wrap-up of our favourite observations from a recent Roots & Shoots outing with volunteers from the University of Mpumalanga, who helped us document species as part of the Great Southern Bioblitz. We recorded a whole kaleidoscope of insect and plant life🐞🌿

You can participate in this citizen science too, at any time. Next time you go on a hike or are our in nature, take photos of the signs of life you see and upload them to iNaturalist to help scientists understand and conserve our biodiversity and help you learn the names of the organisms we share our planet with.

#rootsandshootssa #greatsoutherbioblitz #inaturalist #citizenscience #biodiversity #mpumalanga #southafrica

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Sustainable
Chimp Eden

We work closely with the sanctuary to support environmental and animal welfare education, and the sustainability of everyday operations, with recycling, composting, an organic food garden and tree-planting efforts.

Roots & Shoots South Africa's offices are based at the Jane Goodall Institute's Chimp Eden Sanctuary, home to 33 rescued chimpanzees.

Chimp Eden Website

Find out more here

Roots & Shoots groups around South Africa work hard to pick up litter, plant indigenous trees and clear alien invasive vegetation, helping animals and the environment in ecosystems around them.

Many volunteers are also active in nature-focused citizen science projects, like bioblitzes and recording biodiversity on iNaturalist.

Ecosystem Restoration and Community Clean Ups

Ecobricks

Every year, Roots & Shoots volunteers and members in Gauteng make hundreds of ecobricks, using plastic that would otherwise be thrown away to create sustainable building materials. In partnership with The Earthly Touch Foundation, we have helped to create classrooms and after-school education centres made of ecobricks in Diepsloot.

If you'd like to make ecobricks, you can find out more here. Bricks must weigh at least 550 g to be used in buildings. You can drop off finished bricks at Jackson's Real Food Market in Bryanston and Kyalami, and they'll be taken to Diepsloot.

Get involved with your own Roots & Shoots projects

Join Us Today!