The new Roots & Shoots program of the Jane Goodall Institute, is a youth-driven global network of more than 8000 groups in almost 100 countries.

Students will take action to improve the world through projects they lead and design themselves that promote care and concern for animals, the environment and the human community.

Roots & Shoots facilitator Campbell Whalley visited the school on Friday to discuss the program.

“I really swear by this program, I’ve seen it really work,” he said.

“It suits any child of any age … it uncovers hidden talents within the children and they end up learning more about the world than they realise.”

He brought along “Crumpet”, one of many bears crafted by other schools he has introduced the program into, who then donate the bears to people they believe need them most, which in the past has included victims of the Bali bombings.

School principal Angela Turner praised the program and said: “Who knows maybe the kids will end up making bilbies.”

Teacher and community development coordinator Ali Maleckas is hoping to use Roots & Shoots as a way of introducing a pen-pal program to connect Andamooka students to those in other countries such as Sudan.

Program creator, renowned primatologist, environmentalist and humanitarian Dr Jane Goodall explains on the website what Roots & Shoots means.

“Roots creep underground everywhere and make a firm foundation. Shoots seem very weak, but to reach the light, they can break open brick walls.

“Imagine that the brick walls are all the problems we have inflicted on our planet.

“Hundreds of thousands of roots and shoots, hundreds of thousands of young people around the world, can break through these walls.”