Our first ever VIRTUAL Twinning Celebration Awards 2021

Posted on July 2nd, 2021.

Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots celebrated both UAE and UK students’ achievements and the initiative’s 30^th anniversary with a virtual awards ceremony.

In the presence of HH Sheikha Maytha bint Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Goodwill Ambassador for Roots & Shoots UAE, Dr Jane Goodall and VIPs, the event, which was hosted by New York University Abu Dhabi, showcased the achievements of students, with the support of sponsors and partners.

As part of the Twinning programme initiative, groups from both the UK (East Coast College; Goat Lees Primary School & Ysgol Clywedog, Wrexham) and the UAE (Cranleigh Abu Dhabi; Abu Dhabi Indian School, Muroor & GEMS United Indian School), presented their amazing projects, leaving everyone even more motivated and determined to create a better future for our planet.

HH Sheikha Maytha bint Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, said: “I am filled with admiration for these young people who have remained committed to creating a better world for all of us, in spite of all the challenges the last year has brought. The Sustainable Development Goals have identified partnerships as key, and we know that bringing our two initiatives together will help both grow, with a huge positive impact on our planet.”

“We are very excited this year to be hosting a celebration event as part of our Twinning Programme with our members in both the UK and the UAE who have demonstrated remarkable progress, despite living through the challenges of a Pandemic. We are also very excited to be launching our new partnership with Voices of Future Generations in the UAE. We very much look forward to celebrating these achievements with other member schools, sponsors and partners,” said Tara Golshan, Executive Director, Education, Jane Goodall Institute.

Following the twinning of Roots & Shoots UAE and Voices of Future Generations for the Middle East, the Emirates Literature Foundation in partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute, will lead the outreach for both initiatives in tandem, with an aim to create learning opportunities, field trips, and science projects.

Together the two initiatives provide a comprehensive sustainability-themed path with a focus on the SDGs for children to follow from a young age up to adulthood.

You can see the video from the event and school video presentations on our YouTube channel