Introducing R&S Member Tahlia Walsh

Roots & Shoots is a global network comprised of young leaders and activists who are inspired to make a positive change in their local, national and global communities. A Roots & Shoots member is passionate, empathetic and innovative. Members are intrinsically motivated to address the environmental and humanitarian issues that affect them. They think critically and innovatively to solve these problems making them the leaders of tomorrow’s world. 

Our R&S member, Tahlia has all these in spades! She is a girl mature beyond her years, articulate and passionate about people, animals and the environment. Here is her latest project that she has initiated:

My name is Tahlia Walsh and I am a passionate 11-year-old environmentalist, in Grade Six at the Distance Education Centre of Victoria (DECV). I have been part of Dr Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots program for the past two years, and have had the privilege of meeting Dr Jane personally. Meeting Dr Jane was a life changing experience! I also work closely with Lorinda Jane, CEO of Palm Oil Investigations, the leading non-government organisation on palm oil.

Tahlia Walsh (left) meeting Dr Jane Goodall (right). Tahlia’s work centres around palm oil investigation and raising awareness about food insecurity in Australia.

I have been working on a humanitarian project that all started with the Social Entrepreneurs Club (SEC) at school. The voluntary club is for students from Years 6 to 12. The other students in the SEC and I have been learning about social enterprises and feeling inspired by the SEC, I have decided to raise money, collect food donations, and also raise awareness about food insecurity in Australia. The food donations and money collected will go to Foodbank Victoria which is part of Foodbank Australia. I have been contacting Foodbank Victoria and they are delighted to have my support on behalf of DECV!  

Foodbank Victoria is a not-for-profit independent organisation that collects food and donates it to community partners who ensure it goes to people and families that are living with food hunger.

Image via Foodbank Victoria

Did you know that…?

• Foodbank Victoria feed more than 100,000 Victorians every month, and more than one quarter are children.
• 1 in every 5 children go hungry in Australia.
• 3.6 million Australians are food insecure every year, and can’t even buy the basics.
• Last year Foodbank Victoria saved 37,000 kilograms of food from landfill and gave this to people in need.
• Due to Foodbank’s partnerships with suppliers, manufacturers, farmers and the government, the money we raise will be multiplied by eight in terms of food value!!

It is a huge project to organise in a distance education school, but is a fantastic challenge. Imagine all the families, and especially children, I will be helping with DECV’s support! Maybe you can make a difference too?!

Congratulations Tahlia, you have exemplified the values of Roots & Shoots and the Jane Goodall Institute. What an inspiring leader you are becoming!