Two programs in Dar Es Salaam and Arusha
Founded in 2009 • Over 90 youth currently enrolled
Using music as a vehicle for positive change
Encouraging youth to lead environmental initiatives
Give kids confidence and hope for the future
Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots - The Roots & Shoots program is about making positive change happen—for communities, animals, and the environment. Through tens of thousands of young people in almost 100 countries, the Roots & Shoots network connects youth of all ages who share a desire to create a better world. Young people identify problems in their communities and take action through service projects, youth-led campaigns and an interactive website. Roots & Shoots began programs in Tanzania in 1991 to support children to learn and teach others about ways to improve the environment. The programs are strong, have stable international support and global recognition. For more information visit: http://www.rootsandshoots.org/
Project Arusha
Ilboru Secondary School • 60 youth ages 15 to 21
"The LEAF International music program has
changed the spirit of our entire school!”
- Jovinus R Mutabuz, Ilboru Headmaster
Arusha is a home to over a million African, Arabs, Indians, Europeans, and Americans. 750 boys from all over Tanzania attend the prestigious Ilboru Secondary School in Arusha. Prospective students must pass an exam to be accepted. Families often cannot afford the $60 annual tuition, so the Tanzanian government provides the rest of the school's funding.
Through LEAF International, Ilboru Secondary School hosts the only music program in the area that teaches a variety of East African dances, songs and drum rhythms to youth. Students meet two to three times a week after school. They also perform concerts regularly in the Arusha community and at their school that highlight the various tribes and cultures in Tanzania while promoting the environmental messages of Roots & Shoots.
Through the project students gain:
“I am so happy to feel in touch with being Tanzanian!"
- George Amandas, student in LI Arusha Roots & Shoots Black Rhino Club
Fredy Nganga, LI cultural ambassador to Tanzania
"I am proud for how much [the teens] have learned. There are no other programs like this in any other schools. It is important for kids to know their culture. I have really seen changes in the students - more togetherness and community, Their talents and skills have really increased. Thank you for supporting this very program, the students need it!” -Fredy Nganga
"The project at Ilboru Secondary School exemplifies the power of combining the fun of music and dance with environmental and cultural appreciation. We are inspiring a new generation of compassionate and aware change-makers in Tanzania." -Chase Pickering, Roots & Shoots Board of Directors
Project Dar Es Salaam
Mianzini Prepatory School • Over 30 youth ages 7 to 13
Once a small coastal village, Dar Es Salaam is now the largest city in Tanzania and the country’s economic center. It has a lively urban music culture influenced largely by globalization. They have a local version of hip hop called "bongo flava."
At Mianzini Prepatory School, Mussa Mohamed and Bony Face John teach local drumming and dance traditions twice a week. Students perform regularly at public events in Dar Es Salaam and lead environmental projects through Roots & Shoots. The project helps students use music as a vehicle for positive change and encouraged community involvement in youth-led environmental initiatives.
Goals for the Future:
- Different types of drums, the Njuga and Marimba, for students to experience.
- Group trips to LI Arusha and other areas of Tanzania to perform, compete, and make connections.
- Uniforms to distinguish them as a performing troupe.
