Environmental Volunteer Network introduction
Environmental Volunteer Network (EVN) is the largest non-political, non-governmental and non-profitable group of volunteers focused exclusively on environmental safety, education and ecological issues in Afghanistan, and it is the only group focused on these issues that is fully functioning at present. EVN has 1400+ volunteer members throughout Afghan
istan who are working on environmental education through public awareness programs, scholarly lectures, partnerships, and city clean-up actions. This extensive network includes branches of volunteers in every region of the country, and is led by a core group of men and women in Kabul. EVN has an excellent reputation for environmental campaigns and fair-minded, inclusive, environmental education programs. Based on the Afghanistan Environment law, article number 7, the Environmental Volunteer Network was officially registered with the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) as an Active Environmental Association. EVN network initially conducted its volunteer environmental activities solely in Kabul, Afghanistan, and then expanded its planning so that it now has extended its reach to all 34 provinces of the country. EVN membership is always open for everyone through an application and interview process. Currently, 50 eligible civil societies are registered with EVN as volunteer partners/members, and as of January 2022 more than 1400 qualified people from different careers and disciplinary areas, regions, and with different capacities are registered as volunteer members. Although EVN itself is not an NGO but an Active Environmental Association, it does have an affiliated NGO under which the EVN operates. EPTDO, which stands for Environmental Protection, Trainings, and Development Organization, is both an NGO and an Environmental Network of Volunteers. EPTDO is registered with the Ministry of Economy of Afghanistan in 2020. Abdulhadi Achakzai, the founder and Director of EVN/EPTDO, was a former employee of the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) and worked on behalf of a United Nations Development Program (UNDP) funded climate change project. He has created EVN/EPTDO by integrating the best and most effective strategies of a government agency, with the structures of an INGO (international non-governmental organization), and the efficiency and agility of a civil society. EVN has many learning partnerships as well, that match its educational mission, both in and out of academia.
