Oct 16, 2025·Source: Roots & Shoots Rwanda
NYAMATA, 16 October 2025 — At the home of Dr. Jane Goodall's son Hugo Eric Louis van Lawick in Nyamata, we came together with the young changemakers of Roots & Shoots Rwanda and our wonderful partners at Dream Village Rwanda to celebrate the incredible life of Dr. Jane Goodall — a woman whose compassion and courage continue to shape our world. 💫
Under the spirit of her enduring message:
"Together, we can. Together, we will. Together, we must change the world." — Dr. Jane Goodall ✨
The ceremony began with a minute of silence, honoring her life, her legacy, and her unshakable message of hope and action. In that stillness, we felt the weight and beauty of everything she stood for — a lifetime dedicated to the natural world, to young people, and to the belief that every individual can make a difference.
Every person present wrote a heartfelt message to Dr. Jane in a memory book — a collective, living promise to carry her legacy forward. Page after page filled with gratitude, admiration, and personal pledges to protect people, animals, and the environment. ✍️💚
To close the ceremony, we planted a native tree — a living, growing symbol of Dr. Jane's enduring message of hope, growth, and harmony with nature. That tree will stand in Nyamata as a quiet testament to her life and to the community she inspired. 🌿✨
A special thanks to everyone who joined us, both in person and online, for making this celebration truly meaningful. Your energy, words, and actions continue to keep Dr. Jane's spirit alive in Rwanda and beyond.
Volunteers removing plastic waste from the shores of Karago Lake, Nyabihu District
Plastic waste collected during the Karago Lake cleanup
Young volunteers from INES, UR-CAFF and Nyabihu gathered for the cleanup
Organizations working together to protect Karago Lake
Roots & Shoots Rwanda team and partners after a successful cleanup
Young volunteers actively clearing plastic pollution from Karago Lake
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