In Angola (Central Africa), the government has struggled to care for their growing number of chimpanzees confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade. 

An agreement was reached between the Angolan and Congolese Governments with JGI Republic of Congo, allowing for the Angolan chimpanzees to be transferred to Tchimpounga until they can be properly cared for in their country of origin. Last year, a total of eight chimpanzees were transferred to Tchimpounga.

The new arrivals from Angola were integrated into various groups so they could live social, fulfilling, and safe lives.One of these chimpanzees was Januario. Januario is as resilient as they come. Trafficked as a baby, he was kept in a welded-shut cage at a construction depot and taunted daily for at least 11 years. When Dr. Rebeca Atencia (Executive Director of JGI Republic of Congo) first met him, he had a broken arm and visible signs of trauma. But despite his horrific past, he's adapting to his new environment faster than anyone could have expected.

Gender equality is critically important to conservation. When women have more decision-making power, they help their households and communities make more sustainable choices.

With the introduction of the BCR project, notions about gender equality are spreading at the household and community level. More boys and men are found at the forage and water spots, helping women to collect and transport water. When boys and men help, it gives women more time for other activities. This means women can choose how to spend more of their time. Many of them report their desire for rest. Others prioritize educating their children and spending quality time with their husbands. Regardless, the choice is theirs.

In the commune of Fongolembi, the Deputy Mayor is a young woman, Mariama Diallo. She is the youngest and the only woman holding a key position in the commune-level political structure. When asked how she perceives the community members’ role in ensuring sustainability, Mariana affirms that they are partners with JGI, and that JGI is partner with them. As they say in Senegal: “On est ensemble”! 

Youth leadership is a big part of the COSME project.

Our Roots & Shoots program will engage primary school students in Tanzania to help them understand climate change, learn how to care for our planet, and grasp why adopting environmentally friendly practices can benefit the broader community.

Thousands of youth, particularly girls, will establish Roots & Shoots clubs that are trained in climate change, nature-based solutions, and conservation!In addition, we’ll collaborate with some youth-led organization in Kenya to bring in the Roots & Shoots approach.

The Bagida’waad Alliance, led by Chippewas of Nawash Fishing Families, is a not-for-profit that focuses on climate research on the waters of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. ‘Bagida’waad’ means “they set a net” in Anishinaabemowin. The Alliance encourages youth to hear stories from the Elders about the fish, and actively stewards the land and waters. 

Their Jane’s Green Hope project focused on revitalizing the Bruce Trail by replanting native species and encouraging keystone species such as bats to use the corridor for their natural activities as integral parts of the ecosystem. Bagida’waad Alliance, with support from JGIC, led the planting and revitalization of the area with ongoing ecological monitoring of bats (and other wildlife) in order to determine the effects of ongoing public access to the trail.

Nuu-chah-nulth Youth Warriors have been deepening their relationship to all of their relations including the land, plants, water, and animals. Through Uncovering Common Ground, they took part in land-based programming that invited young men, boys, and male identifying folks to learn about living on the land from Elders, knowledge keepers and community leaders,

Youth came together to have meaningful access to cultural food systems, learn safety on the land, learn survival skills and food security, and connect with Elders for emotional and spiritual support. 

“We hope to keep consistent with the acquirement of knowledge within our collective nations as one Nuu-Chah-Nulth nation, and hope this brings us closer as a people...not only with NCN nations but all people who live on and around NCN traditional territories.”

This work was supported by the Uncovering Common Ground project. 

“We have embraced [Dr.Goodall's] ‘Together we can, together we will, together we must’ mantra and hung a poster in the classroom the same week our gardens went in. It was great timing as the kids really felt like they were making a difference to their backyards this week!! They are watching these native garden numbers increase on their maps and this is something that they want to continue annually!! 

I love how simple the concept is - to explore your backyard, connect yourself to your community through mapping, find problems, and do your part to fix them. It's a foundational plan that always provides meaningful projects and connections. 

Engaging the kids seasonally comes so naturally when you are outdoors surrounded by nature.”

- Lindsay Currie, The Green Herons, St.Catherines, ON

Last year, COP15, the UN conference on biodiversity, was held in Montreal. The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada was offered observer status, and several of our Youth Advisory Council members, as well as Uncovering Common Ground participants, were in attendance.

In advance of COP, they published an op-ed as a united voice, calling for youth to be included in decisions that affect the planet they will inherit. Read the op-ed here.

‘’The overall experience I gained will be something I will cherish for a lifetime. It has given me a new appreciation for life and our Indigenous values and I have been blessed to see life in a new perspective, centred around building and uplifting youth and newcomers to Canada.

Since the trip I have volunteered for many great community initiatives and projects and I have set goals such as building a sustainable restaurant business and providing a service for all my friends and loved ones. I completed SMART goals in order to complete the Duke of Edinburgh’s award, and I have also completed the SUCCESS youth program.

IAYI program has really inspired my interest in Indigenous Studies - I believe “Inspired” is the word I would use to describe the overall experience! ‘’
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- Daniel, cohort 2 intern, 3 years after participating in the program

During her time in Halifax, Dr. Goodall sat down with CTV News and perfectly summed up her message of hope and action. 

“I have this feeling of being here with a mission of giving people hope. It’s a big responsibility. You can’t look around the world and not feel depressed. It’s impossible. So that’s why it’s so important to be able to focus on what you can do, and not worry about what you can’t do.I see humanity at the mouth of a very, very long dark tunnel. And right at the end of that tunnel is a star. And that’s hope. But it's no good sitting at the end of the tunnel and hoping that star will come. No, we’ve got to roll up our sleeves, climb over, roll under and work around all the obstacles that lie between us and the star. Like climate change, loss of biodiversity, poverty where people destroy the environment to survive, overconsumption. We’ve got to work on all these things to reach the star. But good news: there’s people working on every single one of them.”

And many of those people work at the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada.

On April 29 2023, in partnership with the Toronto Zoo, we held a full day of events to celebrate the launch of JANE. Kids and families enjoyed free screenings of the first episode and were invited to contribute to Jane’s Wall of Hope by writing out an action they would take for the environment. In the evening, a very special panel discussion was held with JJ Johnson (creator of JANE), Jill Heinerth (Canadian explorer and filmmaker), Sunniva Sorby (Hearts in the Ice), and Kristyn Ing (former Youth Advisory Council member). They discussed the importance of individual action, youth empowerment, and their reasons for hope!

The event was a resounding success, raising $200,000 in support for the Jane Goodall Insitute of Canada. Thanks to our 30+ sponsors, and 250 guests, this event was a milestone fundraiser for JGI Canada, and we are excited to bring it back for 2025!

Beyond that, 10x10 was a perfect example of what we can accomplish when we work together as a community.

10x10 was spear-headed by our events committee: Afrim Pristine, Alexandra Hutchison, Michelle Valberg, and Angela Colterjohn.

And our inspiring chefs:

Afrim Pristine
Patrick Kriss & Nick Bentley (Alo)
Carl Heinrich (Richmond Station)
Amanda Ray (Drake Devonshire)
Nadège Nourian (Nadège)
Matthew Faust (brodflour bakery)
Aiko Uchigoshi (Aburi Hana)
Matthew Casola (Sul Tavolo)
Devan Rajkumar (Celebrity Chef)
Trevor Lui (The Highbell Group)A
Alida Solomon (Tutti Matti)

Not to mention our world-class photographers: 

Michelle Valberg
Paul Zizka
Deanne Fitzmaurice
Steve Woods
Viktoria Haack
David duChemin
Sandy Sharkey
Jacquie Matechuk
Dr. Simon Jackson

"It is difficult to put in words how extraordinary the donor trip to Tchimpounga is— life changing. Our small group was able to accompany the transport of four rescued chimps and see their release at the sanctuary. We spent a night on the sanctuary island where by early morning we were awoken to chimp calls and then able to accompany the crew who feed the chimps by boat every day, for their breakfast and lunch.

The knowledge and access to understanding the enormous undertaking by the team at Tchimpounga and the Jane Goodall Institute, who care for these great apes and other unique species at the sanctuary, will forever stay with you long after your visit."

- Sarah Wertkin, guest of the Tchimpounga trip

We welcomed 204 new members to Team Goodall in FY23, bringing our total to 830 monthly donors as of June 30, 2023!