Jane Goodball institute's Root & Shoots
program in Hong Kong
Hong
Kong - August 8, 2001
- National Geographic Channel Asia officially kicked off the Jane Goodall
Institute’s Roots & Shoots program in Hong Kong - a care and concern
program for animals, the environment and the human community - with the
appointment of celebrity Leehom Wang as one of the program’s ambassadors.
Wang is committed to help grow and promote the Roots & Shoots program in
both Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Roots & Shoots is the Jane
Goodall Institute’s global environmental and humanitarian program for youth
(from preschool to university), presented by National Geographic Channel Asia.
It was founded in 1991 in Tanzania, East Africa, with Dr. Jane Goodall’s
inspiration that the “future is in the hands of the world’s young
people.”
Deborah Armstrong, Vice
President, Sales & Marketing, National Geographic Channel Asia said:
“Dr. Jane Goodall is a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence and has had
a close relationship with National Geographic since the 1960’s. It is only
natural that the Channel is partnering with her to support the Roots &
Shoots youth education and action program in Hong Kong and throughout Asia.”
“With the official launch of
the Roots & Shoots program here, Hong Kong is now on the global map along
with the other 2,500 Roots & Shoots groups in over 50 countries and
territories throughout the world.” She added: We are delighted to have the
support of Leehom Wang to help grow Roots & Shoots in Hong Kong and
Taiwan, and to inspire Hong Kong’s young people to show care and concern for
all living things.”
Leehom Wang said: “Roots &
Shoots is a wonderful program for youth, the sort of program that I’ve
always wanted to be involved in. I am honored to be ambassador of the Jane
Goodall Institute’s Roots & Shoots program in Hong Kong and Taiwan. I
would also like to thank the National Geographic Channel for spearheading
Roots & Shoots’ growth in Hong Kong.”
Leehom becomes an ambassador
of the program
He added: “I first knew of Jane
Goodall in 1995 and was so inspired by Jane and her work that I dedicated my
song ‘Nature is You’ and my album ‘Window to Mother Earth’ to her in
1996.” Wang noted: “Roots & Shoots is action-oriented, positive and
hopeful. I encourage all students, young people, teachers and schools to join
this program to make the world a better place for animals, the environment and
the human community.”
As part of his role as ambassador
of the program, Wang will be speaking to youth and student groups and
inspiring them about the vision of Roots & Shoots. He is also planning to
compose a new song for Roots & Shoots and is donating proceeds from the
song towards the non-profit program.
Kelly Kok, Executive Director,
Jane Goodall Institute Taiwan said: “The Jane Goodall Institute has had a
very fruitful partnership with National Geographic Channel Asia which shares
our passion in developing and growing the Roots & Shoots program.” She
added: “We are very pleased to be working hand-in-hand with Leehom Wang to
spread the vision of Roots & Shoots and inspire positive action amongst
young people in Hong Kong and Taiwan.”
Roots&Shoots mission
Roots & Shoots’ mission is
to foster respect and compassion for all living things, to promote
understanding of all cultures and beliefs, and to inspire each individual to
take action to make the world a better place for animals, the environment and
the human community.
Many projects have been planned
and implemented by Roots & Shoots groups all over the world. In Taiwan,
Lishan Middle School adopted a stray dog, and Yining High School arranged 15
field trips for earthquake stricken schools. In Singapore, the Elias Green
Thumbs Root & Shoots group developed a compost project. In Hong Kong, the
German Swiss International Roots & Shoots group collected pencils and
pencil boxes to donate to disadvantaged students overseas. In Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania, a Roots & Shoots group organized the 1st Annual Sports Day for
disabled athletes.
The Roots & Shoots program
believes that young people who are making a difference today will grow into
adults who will continue to make a difference tomorrow.
In Asia, the Jane Goodall
Institute has offices in China and Taiwan. Currently there are about 70 Roots
& Shoots groups in China and another 70 in Taiwan who are making the world
a better place. With the National Geographic Channel’s help, the program has
soft launched in Hong Kong and Singapore with a few groups and is currently
also being introduced in Thailand and the Philippines.
In Hong Kong, Shatin College and
German Swiss International School have signed up Roots & Shoots groups.
Currently a fundraising ball is being planned and spearheaded by National
Geographic Channel Asia and a new Roots & Shoots Hong Kong steering
committee. The event is scheduled to take place at the Grand Hyatt, Hong Kong
on November 8th, to raise funds to set up a Jane Goodall Institute
representative here and to aggressively promote this action-oriented program
in Hong Kong.
National
geographic channel TV
The National Geographic Channel
(available in Hong Kong on Cable TV’s Channel 23) will launch an on-air
campaign to promote the Roots & Shoots program across the whole of Asia,
to a total of over 32 million 24-hour households. The campaign will also
showcase activities and achievements of Roots & Shoots groups around the
region.
A National Geographic
Explorer-in-Residence, Jane Goodall is a world-renowned pioneer of the study
of chimpanzee behavior and prolific author of books and articles. She
established the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977, now based in Silver Spring,
Md. Grounded in Goodall’s pioneering study of chimpanzee behavior, the
Institute is dedicated to the well-being of all living things. Goodall is
highly respected in both the scientific and lay communities and has received
honorary doctorates from numerous universities.
*******
National Geographic Channel Asia
brings to viewers high caliber programs that National Geographic Television
has been renowned for creating for over 35 years. Its programming covers
adventure and exploration, natural history, science, wildlife and peoples of
the world. The National Geographic Channel is currently distributed to over 32
million 24-hour homes and over 50 million day-part cable homes in Asia
Pacific. In Hong Kong, it is available on Cable TV, Channel 23. National
Geographic Channel Asia is a business enterprise of National Geographic
Television, NBC, and Fox Entertainment Group.
Issued by:
National Geographic Channel Asia
Pauline Goh
Tel: 852-2621-8815
Email: [email protected]
