Anitha is thrilled to celebrate the 50th episode of the podcast with Lauren Saville, the manager for the Roots & Shoots program at the Jane Goodall Institute Canada.
The goals of the Roots and Shoots program and this podcast are very similar—empowering and supporting youth who are making a positive difference for animals, people and the environment.
Lauren talks about how this program has grown since it was started by Dr. Goodall back in 1991 in Tanzania.
Photo credit: JGI CanadaPhoto credit: JGI Canada
Lauren also shares how schools, communities and individual students can apply to be a part of the Roots and Shoots program and qualify for a grant.
As a thank you to Lauren for coming on the podcast, Anitha donated to the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada.
Twenty-one-year-old, Emily Redford from Ontario, Canada joins Anitha to talk about her experience caring for animals in different parts of the world.
Emily has travelled to India, Hyderbad, Egypt, Panama and Greece to volunteer with local animal rescues.
Though she is not ‘officially’ trained in animal health care, Emily is totally hands-on and assists with before and after surgery care, sedating animals and monitoring them during surgical procedures, and of course offering comfort to the animals.
Emily shares both the best and difficult parts of volunteering in these places.
As a thank you to Emily for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Animal Warriors Conservation Society. This is one of the groups Emily volunteered with while she was in India. This NGO helps animals through conservation, rescuing injured wildlife, and raising awareness about animal-related issues within communities.
Seventeen-year-old, Nikita Dhawan is on a mission to free Shankar, a lone African Elephant, from the Delhi Zoo.
Shankar was only two years old when he was taken from his family and deposited into the Delhi Zoo. Now, 26 years old, Shankar has endured endless years of isolation and being chained for 17 hours a day.
Nikita is determined to end Shankar’s suffering by having him live at a sanctuary in South Africa. Though she has obtained funding from The Aspinall Foundation to finance this trip from New Delhi to South Africa, other hurdles are still in the way. Nikita talks about next steps to attain her goal to help Shankar.
A story of perseverance and dedication to helping animals.
If you’d like to support Nikita’s goal to free Shankar from the Delhi Zoo, please sign this petition. https://chng.it/4wfxGb2vBW
As a thank you to Nikita for sharing her story, Anitha donated to The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. They are one of Africa’s oldest wildlife charities and a leading conservation organization. They are known as the first and most successful elephant orphan rescue and rehabilitation program in the world. To learn more about The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, click here: https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/
Dr. Vivek Basu fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian— and what an incredible veterinarian he has become. Vivek donates a lot of his time and skills to help animals of all sizes, near and far.
In addition to talking about what it’s like to treat many different animals—dogs, cats, racehorses, rescued primates and wildlife, we also explore difficult subjects like trophy hunting and the difference between zoos and sanctuaries.
As a thank you for sharing his story, Anitha donated to Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary, one of the sanctuaries where Vivek donates his veterinary skills. This sanctuary provides healing and recovery from trauma for primates who have been rescued from laboratories, roadside zoos and other terrible circumstances.
Spencer Hitchen from Noosa, Australia is dedicated to saving the last remaining Glossy Black Cockatoos.
With Spencer’s help, these beautiful birds have finally been listed as Vulnerable under Australia’s Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Well done, Spencer!!
This is such an inspiring story of how perseverance, passion and using your voice, can make a positive difference.
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To find out more about Spencer and his efforts to help Glossy Black Cockatoos, check out these links:
As a thank you to Spencer for sharing his story, Anitha donated to Wildlife VOICE. This non-profit, gives a voice to the decreasing populations of animals and plants. Wildlife VOICE uses education, outreach and scientific research to inspire change.
Chelsea Tanchip has a passion to help kids with disabilities. Though Chelsea and her family emigrated from the Philippines years ago, Chelsea found a way to stay connected with the country and follow her passion through an organization called A Child’s D.R.E.A.M. Foundation. This foundation, provides pediatric therapy for exceptional children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Behavioral Problems, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Language Disorders, Down Syndrome, Giftedness, Hearing and Vision Problems, Learning Disabilities, Intellectual Disability, or Sensory Impairments.
Chelsea volunteers to organize special events for the children. If you’re interested in participating in an author event, contact Chelsea at chelseatanchip@gmail.com
As a thank you to Chelsea for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Young Focus Philippines. This organization is devoted to improving the mental, physical and social well-being of young people in poor communities by means of education, health care and personal support.
Superhero, Liam Wilson and Superstars, Will & Jada Finch, join Anitha to talk about a fundraiser they are all involved with—Superstars 2 Superheroes.
This event takes place on July 10th in Milton, Ontario. The goal is to raise money for Sick Kids, a hospital located in Toronto, Ontario.
Superheroes are children, like Liam, who have been or are patients of Sick Kids or hospitals in the surrounding area.
Will and Jada, like the other Superstars, are young people who have stepped up and helped their community—rescuing animals, helping people.
Will and Jada actually shared their story of creating Good Will Good Karma on episode 14 of the Kindness Is Everything podcast. If you love animals, definitely check out that episode!
As a thank you for sharing their story, Anitha donated to Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary. Since it began in 2014, Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary has been dedicated to rescuing abused, neglected and abandoned farmed animals. To learn more about this wonderful organization, check out their website: https://www.happilyeveresther.ca/
At 12-years old, Cash Daniels is a celebrity. He was a top-five honoree of Time Magazine’s Kid Of The Year.
Cash talks to Anitha about all the initiatives he is involved in to help protect animals, the oceans, and the planet, including making Monofilament Receptacles to store used fishing lines and being the co-founder of The Clean Up Kids.
Cash also talked about the tragedy scheduled to happen on July 9th in Jupiter, Florida—A shark fishing tournament. Sharks are a protected species. Every year, 100 million sharks are killed. If you would like to help stop this horrific event from taking place, go to and sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/help-cancel-shark-killing-tournament-in-jupiter-florida
As a thank you for sharing his story, Anitha donated to The Clean Up Kids. The Clean Up Kids is a kid-inspired, kid-run not for profit. They are involved in direct action campaigns, speeches, films, interviews, and meetings with officials in positions to help make change happen. The Cleanup Kids realize that engaging youth is the way to make the biggest change.
To learn more about The Clean Up Kids, check out @thecleanupkids
Anitha Rao-Robinson 