March 8, 2026

The profound message that inspired Jane — and the women who are changing the world today

Photo: Marie Meloche

Today, on International Women’s Day, we pause to celebrate something powerful. We’re celebrating the generations of women who have refused to be limited by the status quo — and who, in doing so, have changed our world for the better.

When Jane Goodall was growing up in England, she dreamed of going to Africa and living with wild animals — dreams that, at that time, seemed impossible because they were not things women did.

“When I was a little girl, I used to dream as a man, because I wanted to do things that women didn’t do back then,” she said.

She had no female explorers or scientists to look up to. But she did have her mother, Vanne Goodall, and her mother told her this: “You’ll have to work hard, take advantage of opportunities, and never give up.”

That profound message has since travelled around the globe. Everywhere she went, young people would come up to Dr. Jane and say: “Because you did it, I can do it too.”

Today, that ripple effect continues — and her mother’s advice continues to inspire young people, especially women and girls, in every corner of the world.

As we celebrate this ongoing impact, we’re also celebrating women and gender-diverse people around the world — and the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements they have had. And for us at the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, that celebration is rooted in action.

After all, action is the only way that we can create a world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where differences are valued and celebrated. A world where stereotypes and discrimination are rejected.

And as Dr. Jane has said, it is desperately important that women’s voices are heard. Because they are on the front lines of climate change, they are uniquely positioned to be agents of change — whether that’s finding ways to mitigate the causes of climate change or adapting to its impacts on the ground.

Here is what that can look like in practice — and what we at the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada are committed to supporting and advancing:

In Kenya and Tanzania, we’re partnering with community members to develop and implement climate change solutions while promoting gender equity. By the time this project ends, more than 25,000 women and girls are expected to have participated.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, we’re working with women and ensuring they have the resources they need to become more resilient to climate change, and to contribute to the restoration and conservation of natural spaces.
In Canada, through Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots program, we’re supporting thousands of young women and girls — ensuring the next generation of changemakers is inspired, supported, and properly equipped.
Wherever we go, we continue to support and attend events where young minds can explore, ask questions, and imagine themselves as the scientists and innovators of tomorrow — because we believe that when young leaders are given the space to be curious and see themselves reflected in science, incredible results are possible and tangible progress is inevitable. Just last month, for example, Marie from our team attended the Women and Girls of Science event in Montreal.

Dr. Jane would never shy away from the fact that the challenges facing the planet are intense. But she knew that, if we want to move forward, we’ll need to make sure “the voices of all those seeking to protect our future are heard — male and female, old and young.”

Thank you for being one of those voices seeking to protect our future. We’re grateful for your support. Because of your generosity, young women and girls across the country and around the world are hearing the same message that Dr. Jane once heard from her mother — and they are proving, day in and day out, that they can do it too.