The Oral Tradition ROOTS Foundation® also referred to as ROOTS Foundation and ROOTS FoundationTT began in September 2005 as ROOTS – “Reflections of Our Oral TraditionS”, a Bimonthly Spoken Word Poetry Journal and Annual Magazine. ROOTS Foundation became Incorporated as a Non-Profit Company on 13th November 2009 under the Companies Act 1995 and Registered as a Non-Profit Organization on 14th June 2019 under the Non-Profit Organizations Act 2019. On 2nd May 2023, ROOTS Foundation and the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to solidify its decades long relationship with an intent to make a positive impact on the youth of the nation, particularly those in underserved communities.
ROOTS Foundation uses oral traditions, with a focus on spoken word poetry, as a catalyst for social change by providing safe spaces/platforms for the self-expressions and self-discovery of persons raw talent using their lived experiences and social realities. ROOTS Foundation uses Peacebuilding strategies and techniques to build sustainable peace amongst Vulnerable Youth in At-Risk Circumstances [7-15], Opportunity Youth [16-24] and 25 to Life [25+].
ROOTS Foundation uses a three-pronged approach to youth development:
