FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 3, 2008 

Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE, the Jane Goodall Institute and Roots & Shoots are pleased to announce the 2008 Jane Goodall Youth Leadership Award Recipients: Emily Woodall, Tayler McGillis and Manoj Gautam. The Youth Leadership Award recognizes an individual (aged 13 to 24) who exhibits leadership and excellence through his or her work to help preserve our natural world, protect animals or benefit our human community.

Emily Woodall, a 19-year-old student at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, N.C., has worked with MANNA Food Bank, Appalachian Voices, the International Primate Protection League and a local animal hospital. Some of her community activities include peace demonstrations, "30-hour famine" events and, the project she is most proud of, an annual hunger banquet at the Jubilee! Church of Asheville. A member of the Roots & Shoots College Leadership Council and National Youth Leadership Council, Emily was one of 100 youth leaders invited to attend the Jane Goodall Global Youth Summit. She is a founding member of the Global Youth Council for Wildlife Conservation.

Tayler M., a 13-year-old resident of Toluca, Illinois, began a recycling campaign at the age of 10. He has now established and maintains seven permanent recycling centers in seven nearby communities. His efforts have recycled more than 22,000 pounds of unclaimed aluminum. With the money raised from these efforts he has donated $11,000 (USD) to a local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, contributed $1,000 (USD) to a local animal shelter and purchased 700 compact fluorescent light bulbs to give free-of-charge to community members. He has also used the money to help replenish native plants, build hiking trails and initiate soil and water conservation projects.

Manoj Gautam, a 22-year-old university student from Kathmandu, Nepal, devotes much of his time to saving animals in need. He started a movement in Kathmandu to rescue reptilian street performers, he began a successful vulture conservation project and he works to rescue animals from the illegal wildlife trade. Manoj has nurtured a partnership with the British Council, through which university Roots & Shoots members serve as instructors for child domestic workers living in central Kathmandu. A volunteer coordinator for Roots & Shoots-Nepal, Manoj was one of 100 youth leaders invited to attend the Jane Goodall Global Youth Summit. He is a founding member of the Global Youth Council for Wildlife Conservation.

Emily Woodall and Tayler M. will receive their awards from Dr. Goodall at this year's Jane Goodall Institute Global Leadership Awards Celebration on November 7 in Washington, D.C. Manoj Gautam will receive his award from Dr. Goodall at an awards ceremony in Nepal in February 2009.

About the Jane Goodall Institute
Founded in 1977, the Jane Goodall Institute continues Dr. Goodall's pioneering research of chimpanzee behavior—research that transformed scientific perceptions of the relationship between humans and animals. Today, the Institute is a global leader in the effort to protect chimpanzees and their habitats. It also is widely recognized for establishing innovative community-centered conservation and development programs in Africa, and the Roots & Shoots education program, which has groups in almost 100 countries. 

About Roots & Shoots
Founded in 1991 by Dr. Jane Goodall and a group of Tanzanian students, the Roots & Shoots program is about making positive change happen—for our communities, for animals and for the environment. With tens of thousands of young people in almost 100 countries, the Roots & Shoots network connects youth of all ages who share a desire to create a better world. Young people identify problems in their communities and take action. Through service projects, youth-led campaigns and an interactive website, Roots & Shoots members are making a difference across the globe.