Gombe Stream National Park

Fifty years ago the famed paleontologist Louis Leakey sent his assistant, Jane Goodall to a remote area in Tanzania. He encouraged her capacity to observe the chimpanzee population with fresh eyes, not yet burdened with science. It was then that Jane commenced her work with the Chimps at Gombe Stream, where she would advance research on, and create relationships with the primate whose DNA most closely resembles humankind.

Through her diligent work and familiarity with this forest and its habitants, Jane has developed an extraordinary grasp of the interconnectivity of people, animals and environment. Goodall’s study of the ‘shadow of man,’ the relation of predecessor with descendant, developed into an increasing foresight regarding the future. Dr. Goodall has committed herself to becoming the spokesperson for our predecessors, and our children. She travels 300 days a year, giving talks and initiating programs (Roots and Shoots among others) which foster guardianship in children; for people, animals and the environment. Gombe Stream is now a National Park, where researchers still observe and protect the 106 Chimpanzees that reside within its forest.

If you travel by boat from Kigoma in two hours you will reach the rocky shore and white-sanded beach that is the entrance to Gombe Stream. Jane’s house is still there, untouched since the 70s when it was built, simple and sturdy. It is modest, as is the Park’s resthouses; small bandas with grated windows to keep baboons out. You don’t need much; it is paradisiacal on the shore of Lake Tanganyika, the beach met by thick, rich forest that rises into lush hillside. The friendly guides take visitors into the forest, communicating with trackers by radio; they strive to give you a marked chimp experience.
Like most who visit, my encounter was rife with close contact.

Along this great waters edge
I walk the rocky shore,
All shades and shapes of stone
worn smooth with time,
the constant crashing of waves,
the sun and moon rotations,
imprint the eternal present
on this lakeshore.
The forest extends to the water.
Green woodland, white stone, blue lake
I step onto the earthen pathway and
all thoughts are left behind
this kingdom extends beyond the mind
saturating my perception
with the fecundity of wet earth
morning’s dew and sunshine on foliage.
Decaying leaves blanket the ground in hues of dusky brown
littered with fallen flowers of pristine white
as though some child scattered them with delight
so the butterflies flit and whirl, quiver and dart
with flawless lightness of being
calling me to do the same.
A close relative to our kind lets out a few cries
then arrives on the path on all fours
and swaggers to a nearby tree
reaching around the soft white bark
with five long fingers
not too different from my own
He climbs to the highest limbs
where the morning sunlight can bask him
sitting quietly in lotus pose
chewing leaves,
picking them off like grapes from the vine.
Time does not exist now
it is perpetual morning;
simple filling of hunger,
the warmth of sun following night.
And when he is satisfied
he propels along the canopy top
a black shadow of swift movement
bringing sticks, leaves and his excreta earthbound
Then he is here again,
sitting in a tree at eye level
as though getting some amusement from the shock
of his waste on my clothes.
We lock eyes,
historical time fuses
and then he is gone
only his scent remains
Arousing my senses;
the morning forest
perfumed so sweetly with dew, damp soil, decay,
Life
So strangely familiar are these smells that seemingly
cocoon me.
the womb of my mother?
Or perhaps the memory of our forest predecessors
still singing from my bones.

Roots and Shoots

Jane Goodall is one of the most inspiring and dedicated woman of our time. She was just like any other girl whose mother told her 'you can do whatever you set your mind to.' Except, when Jane was 22 and had the opportunity to go to Kenya - she seized it. Her energy and passion towards animals led her to assist Louis Leakey, the famed archaeologist and paleontologist. It was he that asked her to take on the study of a group of chimpanzees in western Tanzania. This area is now Gombe Stream National Park, a world renowned haven for chimpanzees and home to the Jane Goodall Institute.

However much Goodall would like to be out in the forest each day - she travels 300 days a year, giving talks in schools and conferences about the critical nature of our era. Jane usually greets her audience in chimpanzee, and always travels with a stuffed chimp called Mr. H, her gentle, yet determined nature makes her one of the most inspirational and eloquent speakers I have ever seen. I had the great fortune of seeing her speak during the fall of my senior year of high school. I remember that I went alone, not quite knowing what I was in for. Within the short talk she had convinced me of the great importance of my role here, and she gave place to the energy of my youth, which somehow felt stifled by my little high school existence.

"Every individual counts.
Every individual has a role to play.
Every individual makes a difference."

It was this talk that validated my thirst to do something different after high school. Having such an ordinary, plain Jane woman of such immense humanity and nobility stand before a disquieted teenager offered a great deal of hope. I promptly began searching for the right organization to volunteer with and read a few of her books, I recommend "A Reason for Hope."

The Jane Goodall institute has been working on the Roots and Shoots program since the early 1990s. The work is primarily with schools, working with teachers on how to incorporate notions of conservation in the classroom.

"The global Roots & Shoots program is about empowering young people to take action through service projects—creating positive change for people, animals and the environment."

The program emphasizes the role of the student, their thoughts, ideas and hopes as well as using experiential learning to engage the learner. Instead of teaching about fish, teachers can take students to fish markets where they can engage with the topic with all their senses. Then they can talk about different breeds, their origins, life cycles and most importantly, how to conserve their species and environment. Youth's connection and awareness surrounding food is used by many progressive educators as a compelling way to teach responsibility and interconnectedness. Goodall's recent books have been focused on mindful living and eating - "Harvest for Hope" is just one of the titles.

Jane Goodall on what separates us from the apes | Video on TED.com