Inviting You to Help Chimps in Tchimpounga

Through Roots & Shoots we've learned a lot about chimpanzees and their habitat, and we've come to love them and want to do what we can to protect them. So when we learned about a fire at a chimpanzee sanctuary where these remarkable animals are watched over, we knew we wanted to help. This letter is our way of reaching out and inviting you to join us in this effort.

Dear Family and Friends,

We are writing to you as members of Dr. Jane Goodall’s Youth Leadership Council. As you may know, Dr. Jane has focused much of her career in the primatology field, working to protect chimpanzees and their habitat in Africa. In the capacity of youth leaders and council members, we wanted to let you know about the recent forest fire at the Jane Goodall Institute’s chimpanzee sanctuary and ask for your support in rebuilding this refuge.

We are involved in the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) through Roots & Shoots, Dr. Jane’s international youth leadership and community service organization. Another program that is run by JGI supports orphaned and endangered chimpanzees in the Republic of Congo. This chimpanzee rehabilitation center, Tchimpounga, is the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in the world, and provides a much-needed refuge for chimps who have been terrorized by the illegal bushmeat trade.

Watch a short video about a day in the life of chimps at Tchimpounga.

Recently, a wildfire struck Tchimpounga and destroyed much of the sanctuary and protected chimpanzee habitat. Fortunately, no chimpanzees or staff members were harmed in the fire. However, unless the Jane Goodall Institute can raise enough money to repair the damage done in the fire, these chimpanzees will have nowhere to go where they will be safe from poachers. Additionally, many of these baby chimps are orphans and are incapable of living by themselves in unprotected forests.

Please consider making a donation to support the rebuilding of Tchimpounga. Donations of any size can be made online at https://www.janegoodall.org or can be sent to 20 Stearns Street, Cambridge MA 02138, c/o Eliza Klein. Contributions are tax deductible and checks can be made out to Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center. If you are interested in reading about our work with Dr. Jane and in Roots & Shoots, check out www.roots&shoots.org. Or, if you have any particular questions, please e-mail us at sproutsofhopekids@gmail.com.

Wishing you a happy and healthy new year,

Eliza Klein and Maya Ludtke

Northeast Youth Leadership Council

Roots & Shoots, Jane Goodall Institute