Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots Awards 2013
Schools from across the UK were invited to Regent’s Park, London this week to take part in a prestigious Awards ceremony in the presence of Dr Jane Goodall as part of the global Roots & Shoots programme.An Ethical Foxy Fashion Show was included in this year’s event, which showcased the inspiring work of upcoming young designers, proving not only that waste can be turned into ‘trashion’, but that we can even “Grow Our Own Clothes”.Lucy Siegle, ethical living columnist for The Observer and co-founder of the “Green Carpet Challenge” with Livia Firth judged the fashion award and declared herself spoiled for choice; “From bio-couture grown in a school lab to trash fashion pieced together from pie and crisp packets this category was bursting with design talent and innovation. Our budding designers were able to demonstrate a real fashion viewpoint while making ecological decisions about materials and message. Picking the winner was very difficult in a field of such talent. It gives me great hope for sustainable style.”Katie Hargreaves was announced the winner and will enjoy a day’s apprenticeship at the Observer’s Fashion Department.Students also prepared creative showcases of their contribution in the area of people, animals and the environment and described to Dr. Goodall and the other participants and guests what they had achieved, why it was important and how they would build on their work for the future preservation of the planet. Schools were presented with certificates and trophies from Dr. Jane Goodall and National Geographic who sponsored the prizes. The students from Accrington St Christopher’s Church of England High School took the Gold Award for the Most Outstanding Group and will enjoy an educational trip to Brussels, Belgium, funded by the Belgian Tourist Office, the key sponsor of the programme. Link Primary School won the Most Outstanding Primary School Group Award and received a selection of Dr Jane’s books. Alex from the Andover Trees United Team won the Most Outstanding Individual Award sponsored by Quest Overseas and will receive a fully funded trip to South America or Africa.Tara Golshan, Executive Director said, “The projects this year were outstanding. The fashion show was stunning and highly creative, signifying the detail and care taken to produce their garments. Our young members are highly motivated in their quest to make a difference in the world which was demonstrated by the impact their work is having on our environment and our planet as a whole”.Roots & Shoots coherent-dev.in/school now has over 1587 groups in the UK alone and educational programs in 132 countries with thousands of young people involved across the globe.
All photo credits to Roger Marks http://rogermarksphotography.com