Introduction

Thirteen years after it was born, APNEK is now a name in environmental spheres. She has many contributions (local, national, and international) on her credit. She is popular, esteemed, heard by all. Awards and recognitions as well as her prestigious partners bear testimony to this. That was the fruit of a difficult undertaking to which was determined the goal of promoting the organization to the status of an institution. An objective to a large extent achieved.

Analytical-Historical Approach to APNEK’s Route and Achievements:

Reflection, a basis to success for any project, or action, has always been an invariable in APNEK’s work since her creation; a realistic reflection linking things pragmatic to things possible, and past experiences to present living with a prospective eye towards the future. It is through such a non-stop thinking that the Association succeeded in standing as a reference-institution in matters of environment and sustainable development.

The stages that have so far characterized APNEK’s life and evolution could be described along the following lines:

1- 1984-1986: Creation, «inspection of the field», and establishment of traditions. It was during this initial stage that the Association formulated her philosophy and general orientations in matters of environment and environmental education. Action unfolded through the organization of awareness-raising round tables and animation sessions in secondary schools as well as the holding in 1985, of a scientific camp on Women’s Role in Environment Protection and a seminar on Desertification the same year.

2- 1987-1989: Beginning of success, of participatory presence through conception and communication. APNEK especially proceeded by the printing of sensitization mottoes on different materials and visual aids and by the organization of seminars the most significant of which were Domestic Waste in 1988 and the famous Kairouan: Urbanism and Environment in 1989. The latter is considered as APNEK’s first large-scale activity and will always remain a date in the annals of the Association...

3- 1990-1992: Information, public relations and national and international success. It was the period during which APNEK attended a highly rapid evolution by organizing her 1st national conference on Trees and Urban Spaces in 1990, by participating for the 1st time in an international meeting in Athens in 1991 and in the NGO Global Forum in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, and by organizing an International Scientific Camp on the Natural Environment of Kairouan in December of the same year...

4- 1993-now: National and international recognition, field and education projects. During this period, the Association completed the implementation of two environmental projects (contribution in the creation of a natural reserve, and contribution in energy saving and combatting desertification) and is carrying out two development ones with women as focus. But the high time of 10 years in APNEK’s life was the consecration she was subject to by being given the Grand Award of the President of the Republic for the Protection of the Environment for the year 1994.

This consecration was not mere chance and means that behind success lies a strategy of action and a thoughtful, methodical work. The strategy was itself the fruit of four (more or less monitored) macro-transitions at the level of objectives and priorities as well as of methodical planning. A strategy-oriented thinking and a methodology of work do exit in APNEK.

In fact, if the Association aimed at awareness-raising and influence by means of a certain mobility in the beginning, participation and influence had become major concerns during the 2nd phase through conception and communication. Ambition paved the way to national and international success through information and public relations in the 3rd stage to come to field work and methodical environmental education in the end by the elaboration and implementation of projects and the animation of school and university environmental clubs.

This Analytical and Historical Approach to APNEK’s Route enables us to clearly see into the components of the action strategy which multi-dimensional thought produces within the Association, through a relational and global perspective to the environment and thanks to a considerably rich experience. Now, APNEK’s strategic action plan could be synthesized into a trilogy of couples as follows:

These strategic couples are at the same time the elements of the couple «environment protection-sustainable development», its objectives, and the means leading to its realization. Sustainable development cannot be achieved without due education, culture, participation (and PARTNERSHIP), field work, information and communication. Information and communication have their methods and techniques; education and culture have their didactics; and participation and field work have their methodology. This suggests that the scientific spirit has always prevailed and been present in the way adopted by the Association since her establishment, in parallel with the constant concern for capacity and institutional building which is indispensable for advancement and progress.

It is in this respect that the Steering Committee has recently been consolidated by a wing (group) baptized the Rayann Group (Rayann’ is the Association’s mascot) who will take in charge APNEK-Juniors that has been created along with the group ; and by another structure, APNEK-Campus, that will be the umbrella of the environmental clubs active in the University institutions and/or homes of Kairouan under the auspices of the organization..

For the moment, the attainments are clear and APNEK is conscious of them. What remains to be done demands more solidarity and effort, as NGO involvement is based on solidary stimuli and enthusiasm and on the constant attuning of objectives and of planning on the one hand; and on ambition for a larger participation, a more effective presence, and a more consistent assistance on the other.

It is in this respect that APNEK ambitions self-promotion to the status of FOUNDATION if donors and funders are enthusiastic about that, which requires the hiring of a (part-time and full-time) staff, more equipment... Should such a possible dream come true, the Association would be happy to engage in the war the international community (of NGOs and UN Organizations especially) are waging against poverty with a special focus on women, to establish an information and documentation center on the United Nations, NGOs, Environment and Sustainable Development, and to launch a green (informal) school. This project will be sent to whom it may concern.

What is essential is that sustainable development remain APNEK’s supreme and ultimate objective and that awareness-raising, education and participation be the channels through which it is achieved for HUMANITY.