Roots & Shoots, a program of the Jane Goodall Institute, is a youth-driven, global network of activities that inspire and engage young people to benefit humans, animals, and the environment. They do this through community service and service-learning projects. Frequently volunteer-led, Roots & Shoots has 8,000 youth groups worldwide and 250 in New England.

In Nepal, Roots & Shoots volunteers recently rescued a bear cub destined for the cruel practice of dancing bears, where the animals have their teeth removed and a rope forced through their nostrils. They are then used as entertainment for a fee. Unfortunately, without a wildlife sanctuary, Roots & Shoots volunteers must temporarily keep these rescued animals in their office. See the below photo of the rescued cub:

Rescued sloth bear cub destined to become a dancing bear in Nepal.

World-renowned primatologist and U.N. Goodwill Ambassador Jane Goodall was in Boston last week for a lecture and book-signing. Read more about her recent travels here and her life’s work here.

I hope to have Roots & Shoots write a more thorough guest post in the near future. With regional officers around the country and a national office in Washington, D.C., they are a wonderful organization with a great mission.