Paper Plus at the University of Toronto
 Roots & Shoots is making its presence known on the UofT campus. Two University of Toronto students, Nan Zheng and Mary Scourboutakos, have been working hard to conserve forest since June 2009 by saving paper. Their mission is simple - promote double sided printing - because it's an easy way to reduce paper use by half.
Their project began with researching the issue. They found out that each year 4 billion
trees are cut down to meet the needs of the pulp and paper industry, and that this industry is the 3rd largest user of fossil fuels worldwide (American Forest and Paper Association).
Nan and Mary then began enlisting the support of students and professors - they already have 100 professors on board with their initiative! To spread awareness further in the coming year, they will conduct brief, two minute presentations on the importance of reducing paper consumption. Learn more about their initiative, and learn how you can speak for the trees. |
Science North-Roots & Shoots Challenge
In June the Winners of the Science North-Roots & Shoots Challenge were chosen. We had many wonderful entries and ranking them was no easy task. Below are the final ranking of the top 3 high school entries and the top 4 elementary school entries.
Each of these schools have been awarded a cash prize of up to $500 to go towards a community service project next year.
Congratulations everyone! Click on the linked schools to see their presentations, and be inspired by the great work they did. |
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*Play John Mayer's "Waiting on the World to Change" while you watch.
Roots & Shoots making a Difference
Roots & Shoots groups around the globe are making the world a better place. More and more groups are submitting project reports and sending us emails, telling us about their initiatives big and small. All of the activities shared, inspire others to care more and do more for people, animals and the environment.
Congratulations to all of the Roots & Shoots Groups across Canada, who completed and submitted 3 projects this past year. These groups and individuals have received a Certificate of Recognition from Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots, for the work they've done to make the world a better place..
All of the groups completed very different and effective projects. Here are some examples of the projects they submitted:
2 projects helping people:
D.A.S Roots & Shoots' Used Book Fair- they raised over $200 for the
Africa Children's Book Box Society
by selling used books.
Nelly Letourneau's Souvenir T-Shirts - Nelly collected over 80 unused T-shirts for a women's shelter.
2 projects helping Animals:
Wheatley School helps local Humane Society- They raised money, food and awarness (through a power point presentation) for their Humane Society. |
Members of
D.A.S. Roots & Shoots at a bake sale for their "Because i am a Girl" Campaign. |
Glendon Roots & Shoots' Fashion is Compassion- An Anti-Fur Campaign, they screened the film Earthlings, had posters, pamphlets and buttons made to let their fellow students know that Fur is not needed in Fashion.
Member of the Trinity Environmental action Club at the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup |
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2 projects helping the Environment:
Trinity Environmental Action Club's Climate Action Day- They held a light out day, and screened a movie with an Environmental Theme to raise awareness of Climate Change.
Stand Up, Stand Out's The Cost of War-
they prepared a power point presentation for their whole school illustrating damage to the water supply, forests and to the animals, to raise awareness about the impact of War on the Environment.
Keep up the great work everyone! We can't wait to see the initiatives you undertake over the next year! |
Project Blue Winners
Congratulations to l'Ecole Saint Catherine's School Roots & Shoots in Halifax, Nova Scotia! Their dedication to reducing water consumption in their school has won them a Flip camera, from the Project Blue campaign.
| First, to get educated and inspired, a representative from Clean Nova Scotia was invited to l'Ecole Saint Catherine's to deliver a presentation on climate change and water conservation. After getting informed about the connections between climate change and water availability, the students decided they should reduce their water consumption. |
L'Ecole Saint Catherine's School Roots & Shoots, June 2009. |
They agreed that the best way to do this would be to tackle the washrooms, where a significant portion of water is used every day.
The group made their own water reservoirs by collecting 500mL plastic bottles from recycling bins, and then filling them with water and pebbles. Two of these bottles were installed into every one of the school's 45 toilets. Because of this creative and dedicated action, each flush has been reduced from 13L to 12L!
Excellent work l'Ecole Saint Catherine's School Roots & Shoots! We can't wait to see what action you will take this year for Planet Releaf!
Stand Up, Stand Out for Haiti
The Stand Up, Stand Out! Roots & Shoots group in Montreal took swift action after hearing news of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, January 12, 2010.
The students wear school uniforms everyday, so they decided to use a free-dress day to raise money for the earthquake relief. Keeping in mind that people were still being dug out of the rubble days and weeks after the disaster, they didn`t want to loose time. They held the fundraiser three days after the earthquake took place, and sent out the money the next day.
Students were asked to contribute at least $2 for the rigth to dress down, but many contributed more. Together, the students raised $3000!
You can send your thoughts and wishes to children in Haiti by sending a Message of Hope. Find out more here.
Roots & Shootsers become Chimp Guardians
The Wheatley School Roots & Shoots in
St. Catherines, ON, have become Chimp Guardians! They have generously sponsored Petit Prince, Timi and Kudia who reside at our Tchimpounga Sanctuary in the Republic of Congo.
Wheatley School Roots & Shoots, Jan 2010. |
The Wheatley School Roots & Shoots began their project by gaining knowledge of conservation issues that chimpanzees face in the wild. They learned about the geography of the region around Gombe National Park, the bushmeat trade, and the animals who become orphaned due to poaching and the pet trade.
The children were very touched by these issues, and so decided to run a campaign to raise money for the orphaned chimpanzees in JGI sanctuaries. |
The group held a fundraiser called "Bracelets for Peace", where they sold fair trade bracelets made by women in Uganda. They collected over $500, and donated the entire amount back to JGI to sponsor three chimpanzees - Petit Prince, Timi, and Kudia.
Thank you Wheatley School Roots & Shoots for your compassion and action!
Ottawa Roots & Shootser Receives Certificate
Nelly Letourneau, a student in Ottawa, ON, has been very active in her community!
She recently received the certificate of recognition signed by Dr. Jane for completing three projects revolving around people, animals and the environment.
Since then, she has cleaned the Arboretum Inlet for the 2009 TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, collected 80 t-shirts for a women's shelter and coordinated a cell-phone drive to raise awareness about the effects of coltan mining on endangered species in the DRC. |
Nelly reading to a group at
"Stories and Art," a program to help young students demonstrate their understanding of literacy links via art, one of the projects for which she received her certificate in May 2009. |
Nelly was also one of 20 youth nominated for the Youth Social Entrepreneur Award at the Corporate & Community Social Responsibility Conference at Algonquin College in Ottawa on November 23, 2009.
Congrats Nelly – keep up the great work!
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