The power of a single story is immeasurable. When a young 26 year old woman from England traveled to Tanzania to study wild animals and share their stories, she transformed our understanding of our relationship to non-human animals, and what was possible for a woman in science, or in general. The reverberations of her story have echoed endlessly and caused the emergence of a generation of compassionate people willing to take action for the planet we all share. Now, we’re sharing those stories.
In honor of the Jane Goodall Institute’s 40th anniversary, the Hope in Action campaign calls upon people everywhere who have been inspired in some way by Dr. Goodall’s message of hope, to share their stories of turning that hope into action. For all those doing things every day on every scale – to grow peaceful gardens with refugees, to support initiatives to quell violence in your communities, to open discourse or to hold a door for a fellow human – we see and appreciate you! With your stories, we can open our arms to one another and put down our arms pointed at each other, for a truly peaceful world.
How to put your hope into action:
To submit, simply click here and fill out the form with all the details of your tale of achievements for the benefit of people, animals, and the environment. Share on social: #Hopeinaction @janegoodallinst !
Debbie Wideroe
Because of Dr. Goodall’s lasting inspiration, I launched an environmentally-focused educational children’s book series last year. Not only through The Adventures of Camellia N. do children learn to appreciate and take better care of our planet and wildlife, but my hope is they also learn to appreciate our unique differences and cultures.
Through community outreach projects, nationwide school campaigns and my “Camellia Kids Care” Global Pen-Pal programs, I am working tirelessly so that The Adventures of Camellia N. will reach children throughout the planet and make change a reality. My hope is that young children will find the environment and endangered wildlife amazing and worth protecting, and perhaps this very young generation will make the needed changes in our world. I am hopeful that through my book series and global school programs, young children will learn how our world is truly interconnected, as Dr. Goodall taught me so many years ago.
Sydney Lyons
I was first inspired when I was pretty young; I used to watch her show on Animal Planet all the time. I remember thinking that she was just amazing and had this incredible sort of peace in or around her. After I read her book Reason for Hope, I really started to take action while letting life take me where it might.
I started exploring through study abroad, and traveled to England and then Puerto Rico for a Spanish language and culture program, which really opened my eyes. I’m happy within my major of Anthropology at school, and I’ve just been accepted for an internship with the International Institute of Buffalo assisting case managers with incoming refugees…I’m beyond excited to be able to continue with my love of storytelling and culture, while actually being able to help people!
Hannah Bradshaw
I am an animal lover. I love all animals big and small. When I read a book about Jane Goodall’s life I instantly was inspired by her and the work she has done throughout her life. I was already concerned about the environment but seeing Dr Goodall’s endless devotion to saving the planet inspired me to do more.
I might only be 11 but I promise to do anything I can to protect the Earth. I do all the small things like recycling, using less power and driving less. I encourage all my friends to do what they can as well. After Trump was elected I got very scared and felt helpless seeing all the environmentally bad things he was talking about. I did not think there was anything I could do. On a whim I decided to attend a Town Hall with my congressman Jason Chaffetz. I thought of a question and waited patiently the entire town hall. Finally he called on me. My question was “what are you doing to protect our air and water for my generation and my kids generation”. I followed that up with “do you believe in science? Because I do”! My Congressman had a horrible response but it felt so good to point out how crazy our elected officials are acting.
To my surprise my question went viral. I got to help promote our local Science March and am going to have the opportunity to speak to the Utah Democratic Party convention in June. I know I did not change the world with my one question but I am even more inspired to keep asking questions and standing up for what is right. Dr Jane Goodall is the most amazing and inspiring person I hope to one day be like her.
Here is a link to the interview I did on NPR.
http://kuer.org/post/fifth-graders-question-chaffetz-heard-round-web#stream/0
The Jane Goodall Institute is a global community conservation organization that advances the vision and work of Dr. Jane Goodall. By protecting chimpanzees and inspiring people to conserve the natural world we all share, we improve the lives of people, animals and the environment. Everything is connected—everyone can make a difference.
