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From humble beginnings
Yonge Nawe is a public interest membership based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that works on issues of environment and sustainable development. It was founded in 1987 by a group of individuals who were concerned with the state of environment in the country and, also the low level of environmental awareness and participation by the public. These concerns have been carried throughout the life of the organisation. 

Literally translated from Siswati to English, Yonge Nawe means, "You too must conserve." 

Birth of Conservation Clubs

Yonge Nawe Conservation clubs were established in schools with the purpose of education and raising conservation awareness. The main intention of setting up conservation clubs was to ensure that the present generation practices sustainable development so that future generations are left with an adequate stock of natural resources for them to lead a quality of life. The Yonge Nawe Clubs was a membership-based organization and these members volunteered their time and resources. Volunteers also started the environmental clubs within schools throughout the country.

Funding Begins

Up until 1990 all of Yonge Nawe's work was voluntary and ad hoc. However, in 1990, Mazda Wildlife Fund in South Africa donated the first vehicle to the organization, a Mazda 4X4 bakkie. This meant that the organization needed to find funds for petrol and maintenance. In writing proposals for funding Yonge Nawe, began to develop clearer objectives and focus.

Funding Partners

In 1991 the British Overseas Development Administration (ODA) gave a grant to the organization, which, was used in setting up a secretariat. Ms Jan Kidd was the first secretariat and Mr. Sikumbuzo Dlamini was Chairman of the Executive Committee. Due to growing interest and enquiries of Yonge Nawe, the concept of schools conservation clubs expanded to incorporate community conservation clubs. It is from these humble beginnings that the vision grew and today it has evolved into Yonge Nawe Environmental Action Group. The grant from the ODA expired and Yonge Nawe found a new partner in SIBEMBO, which later became known as CORDAID. Yonge Nawe's proposal to CORDAID was for activities that included Conservation, Tree-planting, Water systems, Donga Reclamation, Newsletters for Schools and YN members and production of a weekly radio programme.

Yonge Nawe expands

Yonge Nawe has influenced and witnessed positive changes in the field of conservation. The birth of the Swaziland Environmental Authority Secretariat in 1993 is one such development. It signified the commitment of the national government in promoting sustainable utilisation of resources provided by the environment.  For Yonge Nawe this meant that environmental policies and supporting instruments would be in place to provide an enabling framework for environmental conservation initiatives.  New and revived organisations have emerged and expressed concerns for conservation and also commitment towards bettering the state of the environment. Internationally, Yonge Nawe began to gain the acceptance from the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) amongst others. Participation at fora such as these gave Yonge Nawe the invaluable opportunities to explore common initiatives at the global level. In 1996 Yonge Nawe had the present director as the first local permanent staff member who worked as a Co-ordinator. 

By 1997 Yonge Nawe began to realise that it had been successful in raising public awareness. More and more Yonge Nawe began to integrate the issues of conservation, environment and development.  Yonge Nawe had been contacted by the Danish Co-operation for Environment and Development (DANCED) to explore the possibility of funding a Capacity Building through Environmental Action Project.

In the year 2000 Yonge Nawe began a process of strategic planning for the implementation of the DANCED project. Yonge Nawe’s Executive Committee approved and endorsed the new direction that Yonge Nawe was heading. While Yonge Nawe would always retain an interest in "green" Conservation issues, there would also be an additional emphasis on "brown" environmental issues related to pollution.  In 2001 DANCED finalised and endorsed their commitment to Yonge Nawe in implementing the Three "Year- Capacity Building through Environmental Action Project." 

It is worth noting that it is now more than 10 years after the Rio Earth Summit that was held in 1992 when heads of state and government made commitments to sustainable development. To date the world, especially Africa, is still confronted with serious environmental, political, social and economic crises.

It is in issues of sustainable development that calls are made for the participation by all stakeholders, citizens and governments alike. Yonge Nawe as one of the major groups is making her contribution to sustainable development by addressing the issues holistically. In this regard she has broadened her emphasis from addressing only purely environmental issues to integrating the importance of sustainable social and economic development within the context of environmental stewardship. 

In partnership with the Canada Fund, the organisation implemented a project aimed at raising awareness on sustainable development and the WSSD among civil society and also promulgating practices that will help the sustainable development goal become a reality. 

Achievements