The Roots & Shoots New England Youth Leadership Council created the Peace Through the Arts regional campaign in fall 2007. Our youth leaders address the issues of peace and conflict holistically, both locally and globally. The campaign works to bring hope and connection to communities through words, visual art and performance. They also seek to provide for the material needs of the survivors of conflict while protecting the world's environment.
As part of their campaign, the New England Youth Leadership Council is selling reusable organic cotton Peace Bags to raise money for the Roots & Shoots youth groups at the Lugufu Refugee Camp, which serves Congolese refugees in Western Tanzania.
Lugufu Roots & Shoots groups work on conservation education, purchase fuel-efficient stoves, grow organic vegetables and raise chickens to supplement the refugees' diet.
To purchase a $10 bag or make a contribution directly to the Lugufu Refugee Camp, contact the New England Office at (617) 439-9090, or Email Us .
Other NEYLC Peace Through the Arts Campaign Projects:
- Work together to send artwork and messages of hope to youth in countries experiencing conflict or other loss. Roots & Shoots youth have sent messages of hope to survivors of conflict in Iraq, Kenya and at the Lugufu Refugee Camp in Tanzania. Roots & Shoots has also collected and translated messages of hope for the survivors of the earthquake in China, in conjunction with the Roots & Shoots office in Chengdu, while they encouraged groups to make donations to the Red Cross. In 2008-2009 we created and sent over 500 messages of hope to countries around the world.
- Promote peace within Roots & Shoots groups’ local communities through visual and performing arts. For example, the Growing Green Roots & Shoots group of Hartford CT gives free performances of their original work Living the Green Dream to other youth groups; this eco-theatrical production inspires kids of all ages to lighten their environmental footprint, while promoting social and environmental justice. This inspired several groups to do eco-performances, including the Roots & Shoots group from Shenzhen, China—the hometown of Helen Zhang, a NEYLC member.
