We Do GREEN Organization (WDGO) is a legally registered, youth-founded and, youth-led environmental Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) operating on the Rwanda’s territory since 2018. Our main goal is to empower our young people to get involved with environmental protection at the local level – specifically reforestation and afforestation for carbon capture, biodiversity protection, ecosystem and landscape restoration, solidarity and sustainable livelihoods. We Do GREEN is inspired by the need to tackle extreme systemic poverty facing many communities in the developing world – poverty that is compounded by ongoing environmental degradation, particularly as a result of the global climate crisis.

Mission: WDGO’s mission is to involve youth while leaving no one behind in the works towards the protection of our environment, the adaptation to and mitigation of climate change.

Vision: WDGO envisions the wellbeing of people, ecosystem and biodiversity achieved through a collaborative effort.

Our Core Values

Diversity: Involving all people without any exclusion.

Equity: Every member of our society must have equal access to basic necessities for quality life and we must treat our common home fairly.

Inclusion: Equal opportunities for all. most vulnerable members of society must be given priority. Animals too have rights to quality of life.

Sustainability: Efficiency, accountability and transparency for a better, greener and safe world of today and for generations to come.

Our Key Priorities

Why is it important To Act Now?

The Global Climate Emergency, Biodiversity loss, Pollution, and Systemic Poverty are the most defining and inextricably linked challenges of our time impacting millions of communities around the world and we need to take action now. We have reached a tipping point, and our window of opportunity to respond to these crises is narrowing down rapidly. The effort is needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. Ensuring a green, climate-resilient and sustainable future; requires robust systemic and individual contributions and transitions in a more pragmatic way. We Do GREEN is already set on the path to playing an essential part in that transition, by engaging more youth and reaching out to the most marginalised, underprivileged and vulnerable communities. WDGO also advocates for climate policies that are youth-reflective, balanced and putting at the centre those on frontline first.

Environmental and Sustainability Literacy for Youth and Indigenous, Local Communities

The world population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050. Africa’s burgeoning population estimated at 1.3 billion in 2020 is the youngest globally, with 60% under 25 years and a third aged between 15 and 34 years. Moreover, Africa’s youth population is rapidly growing and expected to double to over 830 million by 2050. Climate change is reshaping the world they are due to inherit.

Preparing younger generations in Africa and worldwide is fundamental for building climate resilient future and communities.

Water-Food-Energy-Ecosystem Nexus to break the Cycle of Systemic Poverty

250 million people experience hunger in Africa and conditions are deteriorating across East Africa where 7 million are at risk of starvation and another 33.8 million people face acute hunger. 320 million people still lack access to safe drinking water in sub-Saharan Africa, and poverty is a huge barrier to access to water and sanitation.

39.1 percent of the Rwandan population is still under the poverty line; almost one-fifth are food insecure. Around 80 per cent still cook with charcoal and firewood and practice small-scale farming. These development challenges threaten ecosystems and biodiversity. A holistic approach provides an opportunity to address the underlying causes of systemic poverty. Restoring our shared ecosystem provides spillover co-benefits for improved livelihoods, development, resilience and peace.

Circularity and Sustainable Transitions

The increasing waste and plastic pollution poses potential threats to marine ecosystems, soil, and the environment. Our current economic models as well as ways of living are not balancing profits and the planet- we often become more focused on the short-term gains. however, this creates enormous imbalance and in turn, negatively affects our lives and livelihoods. we need to recognize that taking care of natural world is fundamental to our wellbeing not only now but also for generations to come.

We Do GREEN works to advocate for sustainable and responsible production and consumption, the green and circular transitions at individual and systemic levels.

Environmental and sustainability literacy starts with the younger generation

Young people are the hope of our future. They need to be well prepared to handle complex emerging issues. We engage and empower young people in schools, bridging the gaps in the conventional education system. We improve their ecological and sustainability knowledge, and leverage the curiosity and excitement of young minds.

They teach us as much we teach them, quickly connecting global issues to local problems. We gets our hands dirty by co-planting the “seeds of hope”.

Our flagship program educates and empowers young people to move their communities towards ecological stewardship, and prepares them to become sustainability role models in our society.