About SAEP

BRIEF HISTORY

SAEP (originally the Southern Africa Environment Project) was founded as a US non-profit organization in 1994 by Norton Tennille, a former Rhodes Scholar and environmental activist who decided to leave his practice of environmental law in Washington, D.C. to become involved in environment and education in South Africa after the national elections in April 1994. SAEP was incorporated in the District of Columbia and granted tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Code. Its headquarters have always been in Cape Town. Norton has been Executive Director and Treasurer of SAEP since its inception. When the sister organization, SAEP (SA) was founded in 2003 he became Treasurer and Programme Manager, High School and Post-Matric Programs.

Between 1994 and 1998, SAEP’s main activities involved environmental law, advocacy, and education. Beginning in 1999, the focus shifted to academic support and enrichment activities at the high school level, where SAEP had been doing environmental education. In 2003, a component was added to address the needs of recent high school graduates.

In 2003, Jane Keen, a social worker with 25 years experience in Cape Town, joined SAEP as a volunteer and soon started up an educational program involving support for a group of 10 pre-schools in the area where SAEP’s high school programs run. She also helped organize a South African sister NPO, the South African Education and Environment Project, to involve local citizens in the planning and management of SAEP’s activities and to help raise funds locally. Jane has been Director of SAEP (SA) since its inception. In September, 2005, she was elected to the Board of SAEP (US). See article on Jane and Norton from Winston-Salem, NC Journal (16 September 2005) (PDF p.1 and PDF p.2).