One hundred people are “Going to Disney World!” This week, the phrase usually uttered by winning Super Bowl players is being sung by extraordinary youth who are tackling our planet’s most pressing environmental concerns.

Jane Goodall’s Global Youth Summit brings together 100 youth from six continents to convene at Walt Disney World Resort® from April 19-25. The six-day Summit aims to open dialogue between Dr. Goodall, the extraordinary youth present and an innovative panel of experts about our responsibility to protect our planet.

Each day will provide an open forum to exchange ideas, strengthen leadership skills and create messages through digital media in order to promote awareness and advocate solutions around the day’s most pressing issues – everything from species conservation to conflict resolution. By the close of the Summit, participants will be equipped with tools to implement individual action plans for protecting the future.

Many faces of diversity
Probably the most impressive aspect of this Summit is its many faces of diversity and thus its potential for far-reaching change. Youth have come from 28 different countries, including Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal and the territory of Palestine, among others. This diversity reflects the global nature of the problems we face today and kind of wide-scale collaboration needed to create effective solutions. Many of the youth started communicating with each other online before the summit, seeking feedback and advice about their projects.

Manoj Gautam is the country coordinator for Roots & Shoots-Nepal. “I hope the Summit can serve as an initial hub of communication from which we will create a web of connected Roots & Shoots groups. We want a truly global partnership.”

Manoj’s own goal right now is to create a wildlife rehabilitation center in Nepal to help care for leopards and other animals who wind up in the city, generally as a result of illegal poaching or trading. Authorities in Nepal recently turned over an orphaned leopard cub to Manoj’s Roots & Shoots group, and Manoj is eager to share the story with youth at the Summit. Many R&S members volunteer with wildlife rescue centers.

Deus Cosmos is also at the Summit. He is the regional program coordinator for Roots & Shoots in the Mara region of Tanzania. His flagship project helps ease human-wildlife conflict by planting forest buffer zones that provide baboons fruit, nuts and seeds. These food crops help keep baboons from raiding farmers' fields. “My plan in Florida is to create a bridge to connect the knowledge and resources I gain from the Summit with Tanzanians once I return home.”

Digital video workshops
Summit participants will also build media and advocacy skills at the Summit. The Pearson Foundation is providing digital arts training through its Mobile Learning Institute (part of an alliance with Nokia). The youth will learn how to create short films that will address critical issues that they care about and serve to open up dialogue for creative exchange.

Summit sponsors include Delta Airlines, the official airline of the Summit, and Whirlpool Corporation. The Summit week encompasses Earth Day, which falls on Disney’s Animal Kingdom 10th Anniversary Celebration. JGI and the Summit participants will partake in the parade commemorating that special day.

In this first annual event, JGI is paying all expenses for the young attendees. The summit will be a yearly event, laying the foundation for a truly connected, global family.

Countries represented at the summit include: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, China, France, Germany, Guinea, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nigeria, Phillippines, Rwanda, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania and the US.

Check out the Roots & Shoots Fellow Blog for stories, photos and videos live from the summit.

One hundred people are “Going to Disney World!” This week, the phrase usually uttered by winning Super Bowl players is being sung by extraordinary youth who are tackling our planet’s most pressing environmental concerns.

Jane Goodall’s Global Youth Summit brings together 100 youth from six continents to convene at Walt Disney World Resort® from April 19-25. The six-day Summit aims to open dialogue between Dr. Goodall, the extraordinary youth present and an innovative panel of experts about our responsibility to protect our planet.

Each day will provide an open forum to exchange ideas, strengthen leadership skills and create messages through digital media in order to promote awareness and advocate solutions around the day’s most pressing issues – everything from species conservation to conflict resolution. By the close of the Summit, participants will be equipped with tools to implement individual action plans for protecting the future.

Many faces of diversity
Probably the most impressive aspect of this Summit is its many faces of diversity and thus its potential for far-reaching change. Youth have come from 28 different countries, including Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal and the territory of Palestine, among others. This diversity reflects the global nature of the problems we face today and kind of wide-scale collaboration needed to create effective solutions. Many of the youth started communicating with each other online before the summit, seeking feedback and advice about their projects.

Manoj Gautam is the country coordinator for Roots & Shoots-Nepal. “I hope the Summit can serve as an initial hub of communication from which we will create a web of connected Roots & Shoots groups. We want a truly global partnership.”

Manoj’s own goal right now is to create a wildlife rehabilitation center in Nepal to help care for leopards and other animals who wind up in the city, generally as a result of illegal poaching or trading. Authorities in Nepal recently turned over an orphaned leopard cub to Manoj’s Roots & Shoots group, and Manoj is eager to share the story with youth at the Summit. Many R&S members volunteer with wildlife rescue centers.

Deus Cosmos is also at the Summit. He is the regional program coordinator for Roots & Shoots in the Mara region of Tanzania. His flagship project helps ease human-wildlife conflict by planting forest buffer zones that provide baboons fruit, nuts and seeds. These food crops help keep baboons from raiding farmers' fields. “My plan in Florida is to create a bridge to connect the knowledge and resources I gain from the Summit with Tanzanians once I return home.”

Digital video workshops
Summit participants will also build media and advocacy skills at the Summit. The Pearson Foundation is providing digital arts training through its Mobile Learning Institute (part of an alliance with Nokia). The youth will learn how to create short films that will address critical issues that they care about and serve to open up dialogue for creative exchange.

Summit sponsors include Delta Airlines, the official airline of the Summit, and Whirlpool Corporation. The Summit week encompasses Earth Day, which falls on Disney’s Animal Kingdom 10th Anniversary Celebration. JGI and the Summit participants will partake in the parade commemorating that special day.

In this first annual event, JGI is paying all expenses for the young attendees. The summit will be a yearly event, laying the foundation for a truly connected, global family.

Countries represented at the summit include: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, China, France, Germany, Guinea, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nigeria, Phillippines, Rwanda, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania and the US.

Check out the Roots & Shoots Fellow Blog for stories, photos and videos live from the summit.