By Larissa Sears, Elementary Learning Assistant/ES Service Coordinator
As the 2024–25 school year drew to a close, YIS students, teachers, and parents were honored to welcome world-renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall to Japan. Her visit, part of the Jane Goodall Institute Japan’s three-day event Inspiring Hope Through Action – Hope Is in the Action We Take, resonated deeply with our community and connected directly to the spirit of Service Learning at YIS.
Throughout the event, Dr. Jane’s core message — that hope grows from the actions we choose to take — echoed in the many service initiatives that unite our school in working toward a better future.
The opening day brought YIS students together with youth from across Japan for a keynote address by Dr. Jane, followed by powerful storytelling from three young change-makers who reminded us that small voices can spark big ideas. Students then participated in an interactive Roots & Shoots workshop, facilitated by YIS staff and JGIJ volunteers. Using the four-step Roots & Shoots formula — Get Inspired, Explore, Take Action, Celebrate — students reflected on their passions and envisioned the impact they could have through meaningful action.
The second day, part of the Goi Peace Foundation’s 70th Anniversary Lecture Series, was aimed at educators and parents. Dr. Jane’s keynote, Carrying the Light of Hope Forward, emphasized the role of adults in fostering curiosity, linking knowledge to action, and empowering students to become active contributors to their communities, values at the heart of learning at YIS.
On the final day, our elementary school and high school Roots & Shoots groups joined peers from across Japan to present their initiatives directly to Dr. Jane. From environmental projects to community service, students shared how they are working to make the world a better place. The event concluded with a symbolic tree planting at International Christian University, a lasting reminder that nurturing the Earth begins with small, intentional steps.
Across all three days, Dr. Jane’s words struck a chord with our community:
“Hope doesn’t come from waiting, it comes from doing.”
This year and beyond, YIS students, teachers, and parents will continue to turn that message into reality — supporting people, protecting animals, and caring for our environment. As Dr. Jane shared:
“Every choice we make in our daily lives impacts the planet. That means we can also choose to make a positive difference. When young people understand the issues and take action, they become a powerful force for change. That is my reason for hope.”