Friends of Lake Tanganyika (FOLT)
Founded in 2012, Friends of Lake Tanganyika (FOLT) is a community-based organization dedicated to addressing the environmental challenges facing Lake Tanganyika and its surrounding areas. FOLT focuses on sustainable solutions that benefit both people and the planet, working hand in hand with local communities to combat environmental degradation, poverty, and hunger.
Our Mission & Vision
FOLT’s mission is to end extreme poverty, hunger, and environmental degradation in the Lake Tanganyika Basin. It has been done by empowering local communities to play an active role in protecting their environment and improving their livelihoods. Their projects, such as agroforestry initiatives, help communities build sustainable futures while preserving the natural beauty and resources of the region.
The lake's vital role
Lake Tanganyika is one of the world’s natural wonders. It holds 17% of the globe’s surface freshwater and is the second-oldest and deepest lake in the world. The lake provides essential resources to over 12 million people, including fish, which accounts for 40% of the region’s protein supply. However, deforestation, overfishing, and climate change threaten the lake’s ecosystem and the livelihoods of those who depend on it.
By involving local communities in the restoration and preservation of Lake Tanganyika, a lasting change can be created. From tree planting and use of clean energy to environmental education, FOLT’s work offers hope for the future, ensuring that the lake remains a source of life for generations to come.
Green Youth Collective
Green Youth Collective (GYC) is a social enterprise, founded in 2013 at the very early stage of the grow-your-own-food movement in Vietnam, endeavouring in natural nutrient recycling and closed loop, small-scale farming at family and community levels. GYC engages youth, farmers, women, workers (especially those who are in-need community groups) and everyone who is keen on developing the mindset and skills that help both People and Nature thrive.
Our Mission & Vision
In Vietnam, we operate Learning Centers that are located at the heart of local communities.
Each learning center is unique for its context and the role it plays in operating zero waste and regenerative sustainability models, education and training of sustainable skills that engage diverse stakeholders, especially those who are in vulnerable, in-need community.
Our communities and projects are located in tourism hotspots. Places where if without the consistent activism and strategy for actions at all levels, natural resources can be overused or taken for granted, and the consumption lifestyle can put increasing pressure on the well-being of natural eco-system. In its turn, the ecological and cultural degradation will not ensure any remains for future generations.
Our works inspire and contribute to the foundational system for regenerative, zero-waste tourism and community development in the destinations.
Dream International Uganda
Dream International was started in 2015 as a community tree and forest restoration project in Kyamukube and Katebwa areas of Rwenzori Mountain in Bunyangabu District by Mbakania Joshua who for a longtime has harbored a vision to restore the degraded mountain ecosystem of the Rwenzori. Ever since, this mission has evolved into a community based organization with an expanded mission to serve the whole mountain range and its hinterland. This mission is enormous and thanks to the support of tree and forest restoration partners and the local communities who embrace the idea that restoration of the mountain ecosystems of the Rwenzori not only serves to stabilize the environment the local area and it provides a public good for the rest of the planet. The importance of the global positioning of the Rwenzori Mountain ecosystem cannot be overemphasized. Given its significance as one of the biodiversity hotspots in the Albertine Rift and a wetland of international importance (Ramsar Site), Rwenzori Mountain offers a unique and pristine landscape of diverse natural vegetation that has been called “Africa’s botanical big game”.
Our Mission & Vision
To deliver nature-based solutions for healthy environment and healthy people. We propagate and plant trees to provide ecosystem services for forest restoration, biodiversity, food and income food security mitigation of climate change
wells for zoë
From Water to Restoration: Empowering Women and Communities in Malawi
Wells for Zoë started in 2005 with a clear goal: to provide clean, accessible water to rural communities in Northern Malawi. By installing simple, low-cost pumps, the organization made it easier for families—especially women and girls—to access safe drinking water. With wells closer to home, girls could spend more time in school, and families could grow food and stay healthy.
As the work progressed, it became clear that access to water was just one part of a bigger picture. Deforestation, soil erosion, and climate challenges were making daily life harder and threatening the very resources the community depended on. In response, Wells for Zoë expanded its mission to include landscape restoration.
Today, reforestation and soil management are core parts of their work. By planting trees and restoring degraded land, the organization is helping to protect water sources, improve soil fertility, and reduce the time and effort women spend gathering firewood. These projects also provide paid work, especially for women, helping them support their families and gain financial independence.
With support from PlantingOnDemand, the focus will be on planting a variety of fruit trees at Community and Education Centres: Preschools, Secondary School Campuses, Hospitals and Town Squares—providing long-term access to nutritious food, creating shaded, healthier spaces, and engaging communities in caring for their environment.
Eco Caminhos
Eco Caminhos is a self-sustaining eco-farm located in the Mata Atlântica mountains of Nova Friburgo, Brazil. Founded in 2014, the farm operates as a living example of sustainable living, integrating permaculture, agroforestry, and bioconstruction practices. Eco Caminhos is dedicated to restoring the environment while demonstrating the viability of regenerative agriculture. They offer immersive experiences for visitors, volunteers, and students from around the world, making sustainability accessible and actionable.
Our Mission & Vision
Eco Caminhos’ mission is to empower individuals through education in permaculture, agroforestry, and bioconstruction, promoting hands-on learning and sustainable living.
Their vision is a world where communities live in harmony with nature, achieving self-sufficiency while restoring ecosystems. Through projects like Ecolibrium, they create spaces for learning, eco-tourism, and community engagement, spreading regenerative practices globally.
Reforestación Alimentaria
We reforest school gardens, soup kitchens and children’s homes with fruit trees and edible food.
Our Mission & Vision
Empower children and adolescents to cultivate their own food promoting food sovereignty.
Manage reforestation and give assistance in the care of trees with organic products
Expand reforestation to urban areas and create an organic seed bank.
Food Secured Schools Africa
Food Secured Schools Africa (FSSA) is a social enterprise founded in 2018 by agronomist Eskender Mulugeta Ayele upon his return to Ethiopia after working in humanitarian food production across several African countries. The initiative aims to address food insecurity and support education by transforming unused school land into productive, organic gardens.
FSSA’s model empowers low-income parents by providing them with technical support and seedlings to cultivate chemical-free vegetables and fruits on school grounds. These gardens serve dual purposes: they supply nutritious food for students and generate income for parents through sales, primarily via the School Feeding Program—a governmental initiative designed to keep disadvantaged children in the education system. During the COVID-19 crisis, this model proved especially valuable, as it allowed families to use the produce for their own sustenance when market access was limited.
By 2020, FSSA had successfully established and sustainably managed nine school gardens in Addis Ababa and the Oromia Region, involving over 300 parents and achieving yields of up to 30 tonnes of vegetables per hectare. The organization has been recognized for its innovative approach, receiving awards and support from international organizations. FSSA’s work contributes to the broader goals of food sovereignty and local food systems, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal #2: Zero Hunger.
