I am currently in my junior year of university. I am the president of Roots & Shoots at Trident Technical College. I have been involved in many projects such as annual beach sweeps, forest clean sweeps, raising money and awareness for the bushmeat trade and raising money for breast cancer research. I have also worked with a local Girl Scout troop to rebuild camps and collect goods for the animal rescue shelter. I was chosen to go to China this past year and got to meet with many Roots & Shoots members in both Shanghai and Beijing. For Global Awareness month I was asked to give a speech about my trip to China. The speech will help spread the message about how we can do our part to protect the environment here and in China.

I am a junior pursuing a double major in Environmental Studies and English. I am a member of Earth's E.C.O. and brought Mark Hertsgaard to speak on campus. I initiated the Global Awareness Day Committee and raised enough money to send 11 people to PowerShift 2007. Last year I helped found We Are Responsible and is currently the president of the club. The club writes and publishes newsletters on humanitarian issues and plans smaller events. This year, our topics are Darfur, homelessness, and natural disaster. Last spring I was awarded the Maine Campus Compact Heart and Soul award for my efforts with Earth's E.C.O. I have had several poems published in literary journals, and am in the process of seeking representation for my young adult fantasy novel.

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I am an 18-year old Taiwanese student. I have been engaged in volunteer work since Roots & Shoots was brought to my school. At one point Dr. Jane came to my school to give a speech about the achievements of Roots & Shoots. We divide our volunteer work into three areas: caring for the environment, community and endangered species. We are also attentive to social topics that are of interest to our community. I tutor young children, meet with the elderly, conduct street and beach clean ups, and help local farmers. I have received the Juridical Person Prudential Youth Volunteer Reward and am now the Youth Consulting Ambassador.

I grew up in Vancouver where I taught ballet and worked at my local Hebrew School. I learned that I was interested in sharing with others. I was selected to participate in Women in House where I job shadowed a female member of Parliament. I was also the Conference Coordinator for Action Canada, a program to build leadership skills in outstanding young Canadians. While attending McGill University I became fascinated with international issues. Through my committee work on the Political Science Students Association I met committed individuals who cultivated my sense of global citizenship. I witnessed the power of dialogue as 200 Canadian students came together to discuss political issues with notable speakers. The discussions were meaningful, and it was at this conference I felt an overwhelming sense that if these delegates wanted to change the world, they could. Free The Children's mission matches my personal goal of changing the state of apathy in our world.

I am a 19-year old from Asheville, North Carolina. I currently attend Warren Wilson College and am seeking my degree in Conservation Biology. I have always loved animals and from an early age was involved with animal care. I have also worked with Manna Food Bank, Appalachian Voices, an animal hospital, and the International Primate Protection league. These unique opportunities to serve my community have given me a great understanding of the needs that face my local community. Since the age of 14, I was involved in several community projects. Some of these include peace demonstrations, thirty-hour famines, and special events at organizations I have worked for, however the project I am most proud of is an annual hunger banquette held by the Jubilee! Church of Asheville. These hunger banquettes are demonstrations of how hunger effects the global population. For the past few years I have spent much of my energy focusing on the conservation of primates, and plans to pursue a career in primatology. I became involved in Roots & Shoots through Chimpanzoo conferences and am now on the College Leadership Council and the National Leadership Council. In my free time I love to read, hike and watch science shows on the Discovery Channel and National Geographic.

I attended Daylesford Secondary from 2002 until my graduation in 2007 in the top 7% of students state-wide, earning the prestigious Trewhella Award for leadership, community work and academic ability. I have recently commenced a Bachelor of Arts (Global) at Monash University majoring in International affairs, Politics and French. I currently serve on the board of the Victorian Government's Youth Affairs Council which is the peak body and leading advocate for young people's issues in Victoria. I am also a board member of the Red Cross within Victoria and serve as the Lobbying Team Leader within the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY Campaign. I have previously served as the National Chairman of the Air Force Cadets representing 6,000 teenagers, an advisor to my local council and as the President of the student community representing 500 of my peers. I am currently undertaking an internship with Australia¿s first youth run aid and development agency and volunteer with the International Affairs Institute and UN Association within Victoria. I have presented on youth and global affairs for several organizations and write prominently on contemporary issues to a variety of publications and online journals. I am a recipient of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award and was the 2005 Regional Youth of the Year and the Victorian Cadet of the Year in 2006 amongst other awards. I have also traveled extensively and in my spare time enjoy playing the African flute, learning Kiswahili, practicing the Filipino martial art of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali, reading, running and mountain biking.

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Yang, You (China)

I am a student that loves to volunteer. I am currently studying at Dalian Nationalities University, majoring in Environmental Protection Engineering. I have organized a large scale environmental protection public activity for World Environmental Day and took part in the Roots & Shoots Youth Summit-Beijing. I organized a tea ceremony to show the art of tea to the entire community. In this way my group promoted the spread of tea culture and enriched the life of the elderly in the community. I am a recipient of the Roots & Shoots Award Prize.

I was born in Ningbo, China, moved to Shanghai when I was eight and then immigrated to Canada in 2006. I believe that these moves show I have the ability to adapt to new environments. I have played a very active role in all the schools I have attended. In Shanghai I was elected the vice president of the Student Council and did a lot about my school's activities and sports tournaments. I also am very active in the drama, choir and environmental club. I am very interested in music and played in the Shanghai Youth Symphony Orchestra and now play for the Lord Byng Honor Strings Orchestra and Lord Byng Symphony Orchestra. I love sports, especially soccer and basketball. Since moving to Canada, I have been on the honor roll. I also love to travel. I have traveled a great deal in China, attended summer camp in England and visit the US. Everyone that knows me thinks I am an honest, kind and helpful person.

I am sometimes referred to as "Fuzzhead" by my fellow peers. This creature is quite an interesting specimen, walking distinctively on two hind legs. The animal speaks in a delicate tone, with various dialogs. It seems that he is somewhat talkative within his peers, making aspiring gestures as he communicates. Our Alvin finds hygiene extremely important and cleans himself with a systematic method from head to toe. He also finds time to improve the surrounding environment around him as his cognitive thinking is advanced and he is able to see that all actions have consequences. You will see, in addition to addressing his own actions he strives to engage his fellow primates on the idea of sustainable behavior and attitude. The creature has gained many trophies and recognition through his local community and has represented Hong Kong in Baseball (a tribal sport). He has also taken the post of "war chief" otherwise known as a Head of House in his educational facility. He has also fenced and played rugby (other tribal sports) for the educational facility. Our primate also has quite an interest in the arts, although he cannot sound music using his vocal cords or with an instrument " Alvin" is quite an actor, taking on the main role in the annual theatrical production in his educational facility. Overall the intriguing creature is quite a sturdy fellow. He is artistic (in some sense); intelligent, athletic and striding up the social hierarchy. It seems that this creature's aim is to help save, not only itself, but the world it lives in.

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I came to the United States four years ago. I love theme parks which renew my sense of being a child; sharing feelings with friends, teachers and family; and singing aloud. I love to read but am also very dynamic. I make fun of myself because I believe in humility, an attitude that fosters introspection and personal improvement. In China, I received many awards recognizing academic achievement. In the U.S. I received Caltech Signature Award, AP Scholar Award and AP Scholar with Distinction Award. I am also a recipient of the prestigious QuestBridge Scholar.