NCE Supports: The Namibian Youth Chamber of Environment

The Namibian Youth Chamber of Environment (NYCE) was established on 14 June 2024 as the youth branch of the Namibian Chamber of Environment (NCE). NYCE is an active, youth-driven network of dedicated and passionate individuals focused on promoting conservation initiatives in Namibia. We aim to use this platform to transfer the knowledge and skills from the current generation of conservation experts to young people, inspiring a new generation of conservationists and environmentally aware Namibians.

NYCE is on a mission to create a leading and impactful youth-driven organisation in the conservation space that will actively advocate for environmental conservation and sustainable development across all sectors of Namibian society. We envision NYCE as an inspired group of young Namibians with the confidence and skills to chart a sustainable future for their country.

Objectives and activities

NYCE provides training and mentorship to Namibian youth by running webinars and other in-person events during which invited experts discuss their respective fields of expertise with members. Thus far, we have hosted three webinars: Hygiene and Sanitation with Development Workshop Namibia; Advocacy for Sustainable Development with Namibia Institute of Democracy; and a panel discussion on Tourism and Conservation vs. Green Hydrogen and Oil.

Like its parent body, NYCE facilitates access to environmental information through education, collaboration and communication. The NYCE Instagram account shares short videos, photos, and other graphics on environmental issues to engage with young people across Namibia and encourage them to get involved.

In the near future, NYCE will develop and implement feasible and impactful outreach programmes, involving our members in practical ways. These include clean-up campaigns, tree-planting days, awareness campaigns and other activities held across the country. Our leadership group will raise funds to finance more excursions and activities to bring members from different parts of the country together to encourage collaboration and camaraderie.

The new NYCE website: https://youth.conservationnamibia.com – launched in September – will focus on drawing broader attention to national threats to ecosystems and species using the creativity of young people. With funding from NCE, we hold regular competitions with prizes for essays, photo-essays, artworks, videos, music, and more on specific environmental themes. The first of these competitions was for the best-designed logo for NYCE, won by Nicole Benade, who produced a stunning logo that was voted the best entry by NYCE members via WhatsApp. The second competition challenged young people to develop creative ways of recycling and reusing everyday waste, won by Klaudia Nghitevelekwa, who turned waste into art.

Membership and leadership structure

In only four months, the NYCE has grown to a membership of 112 individuals and two youth organisations, with approximately 160 individuals joining our broader WhatsApp group. Our registry reveals that 64% of the NYCE members are female and 45% are students. Most of the NYCE members are based in the Khomas and Zambezi Regions, while Otjozondjupa, Erongo and Omusati are also well-represented; only Kavango West and //Kharas are missing. Ultimately, NYCE aims to attract members from all 14 regions of Namibia.

NCE and Felines Communication and Conservation jointly support a permanent Youth Coordinator, Trendy Masule, to provide secretarial services for the NYCE. Leadership and direction are provided by a voluntary team of 17 elected representatives, which currently include the president (Punaete Kandjii), vice-president (Tristan Kolling), secretary general (Ottilie Fillipus), eight regional coordinators and four secretaries. The regional leadership team is set to grow as NYCE's membership expands in each region.

This team provides direction for the youth chamber by generating new ideas for webinars and competitions, recruiting new members, partnering with other organisations and institutions, marketing and networking, among other duties. The current structure and function of NYCE will be formalised through a constitution, which will be presented at the first Annual General Meeting, to be held in 2025.

Benefits of NYCE membership

Membership is open to any Namibian between the ages of 18-35 who is passionate about conservation and committed to implementing NYCE's activities. Membership levels (Bronze – African penguin; Silver – Welwitschia; Gold – Heaviside's dolphin; Platinum – cheetah) indicate the commitment displayed by each member. The levels are unlocked by members organising or participating in activities, such as giving school or community environmental talks, contributing their photographs, videos and essays for the NYCE website, hosting or attending webinars and collecting atlas data on biodiversity. Each year, members will be issued certificates reflecting their membership level.

Being a NYCE member comes with several benefits, especially relating to job seeking and career advancement. Active members who produce content for the website can showcase their talents to a wide audience. These outputs can be included on their CVs, reference letters, and become examples of their work for future employers. Members who participate in webinars and talks will further distinguish themselves as potential employees who think about environmental issues and can articulate their ideas. The WhatsApp group regularly posts job opportunities, bursaries, scholarships and other competitions, creating a networking environment for young professionals and students.

At least once a year – more often if funds are available – NYCE members will have the opportunity to join field excursions to NCE member organisations to learn about their work. These excursions will introduce members to different aspects of environmental conservation and give them a good idea of what to expect if they choose this career path. They can also use their knowledge to educate and inspire people in their own communities to conserve biodiversity and reduce their environmental impact.

As NYCE grows and creates its own institutional identity, it will bring NCE and its members closer to the Namibian youth who want to be involved in the environment. This initiative will ensure the long-term viability of conservation in Namibia, as informed, passionate young people start working towards a sustainable future for their nation.