What SustyVibes does

SustyVibes (legally registered as Sustainability Projects for Youths Initiative) is a private, youth-led nonprofit organization founded in 2016 in Lagos, Nigeria, by Jennifer Uchendu. It operates a portfolio of 12 interconnected programs organized around five working pillars: Wellbeing in a Changing Climate, Greenskilling, Knowledge In Action, Natural Narratives, and Community Power. Programs span climate education (Susty Schools, Bioverse NG), community action (Communitrees, Street Conference), creative advocacy (ArtVocacy, Street Dreams Project), women's empowerment (Lotus, Street Dreams), informal waste picker welfare (Susty Marshalls), youth innovation (SV-PIE), professional development (Susty MasterClass), and mental wellbeing (The Eco-Anxiety Africa Project). The organization supplements a 24-person paid core team with more than 800 volunteers (SustyVibers) across Nigeria, Ghana, the United States, and the United Kingdom, with reported programmatic reach extending to Liberia, South Africa, Uganda, Sierra Leone, and Gambia.

The underlying technology stack is a lightweight web-based platform: a primary sustyvibes.com website alongside subdomain sites for TEAP (teap.sustyvibes.org) and Zen (zen.sustyvibes.org). There is no proprietary software, no mobile application, no AI/ML capability, and no API or third-party developer integrations. Programmatic impact is delivered through physical events (Susty Parties, Street Conferences, tree planting, cleanups, screenings), workshops, school visits, and online learning sessions.

SustyVibes does not charge beneficiaries for its programs. Its revenue model consists of two streams: individual donations (via bank transfer and Selar.co payment processing) and institutional partnerships and grants from governments, embassies, foundations, and corporations. Anchor funders include the Global Environment Facility, the Embassy of the Republic of Germany in Nigeria, the British High Commission Abuja, the UPS Foundation, UNIC Lagos, PIND, and Ashoka. Distribution is direct, with programs implemented by the core team and volunteer network and through partner organizations including schools, community groups, and NGOs. The Zen sub-brand adds a workspace rental component as a minor earned-revenue stream.

Name

SustyVibes

Legal name

Sustainability Projects for Youths Initiative

Website

https://sustyvibes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SustyVibes is a youth-led nonprofit climate organization founded in 2016 in Lagos, Nigeria, operating 12 interconnected programs in climate action, youth leadership, greenskilling, mental wellbeing, and circular-economy inclusion, serving African youth, schools, women, and informal waste pickers across 10+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Advocacy and Climate Action

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Conservation & Sustainability Volunteering (EDAIAGAB), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Health Promotion, Prevention & Wellness Education (EDALAFAF)

Keywords

• Youth climate action
• Environmental advocacy
• Sustainability education
• Community organization
• Climate resilience programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lagos

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations through bank transfers to support youth-led climate action programs
2. Partnerships and Grants: Funding and support from institutional partners including governments, embassies, foundations, and corporations to support specific programs and initiatives

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SustyVibes is a youth-led nonprofit organization that delivers a portfolio of 12 interconnected climate action, sustainability education, and youth leadership programs across Africa and the diaspora. Programs serve young people aged 15-35, schools, informal waste pickers, and young women and girls through community events, workshops, training, advocacy, and grassroots organizing. All programs are free to beneficiaries and funded through donations and grants from institutional partners.

Product overview

SustyVibes is a youth-led climate organization operating as a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on catalysing climate resilience in Africa. The organization offers 12 core programs spanning climate action, youth leadership, and community transformation, including environmental education (Susty Schools, Bioverse NG), community action (Communitrees, Street Conference), creative advocacy (ArtVocacy, Street Dreams), women\'s empowerment (Lotus, Street Dreams), waste management (Susty Marshalls), innovation support (SV-PIE), professional development (Susty MasterClass), and mental health support (Eco-anxiety Africa Project). Additionally, the Zen workspace provides sustainable co-working spaces. Five campaigns extend the reach: Naija CookWise, StareDownOnPollution, Intervibes, SustyVibersRock, and Susty Person of the Month.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lotus by SustyVibes: Leadership training programme for women and girls navigating activism, creativity, and community leadership in a time of global polycrisis.
• Zen by SustyVibes
• Bioverse NG
• TEAP (The Eco-anxiety Africa Project)

Products and services

• ArtVocacy A sustainability advocacy program using pop culture, music, film, and the arts to engage young people with environmental issues through immersive Susty Parties and movie screenings.
• Bioverse NG A biodiversity conservation project that equips young people with knowledge and opportunities to participate in protecting nature through workshops, regional dialogues, internship placements, and a national conference.
• Communitrees A flagship tree planting and climate advocacy project focused on planting indigenous trees across communities in partnership with local residents, schools, and volunteers.
• The Eunice Amoka-Bankole Street Dreams Project An ecofeminist project that uses art and storytelling to empower young women through photography and upcycling training, transforming discarded materials into marketable products.
• Lotus by SustyVibes A 12-week leadership training program for women and girls combining feminist learning, intergenerational dialogue, creative exploration, and wellness practices to support activists navigating community leadership.
• Street Conference A community-first initiative bringing sustainability education, waste management advocacy, and hands-on action including cleanups and street interviews to markets, public spaces, and neighborhoods.
• Susty Marshalls An initiative to improve welfare, dignity, and visibility of informal waste pickers in Nigeria through protective equipment distribution, health services, and advocacy for their formal recognition in the circular economy.
• Susty MasterClass A professional development program bringing emerging sustainability leaders together to learn from experts working across climate action, circular economy, sustainability communication, and environmental innovation.
• Susty Schools An educational program bringing Sustainable Development Goals education to primary and secondary school students through interactive learning, experiential activities, and hands-on projects.
• Susty Pitch Innovation and Ecosolutions (SV-PIE) A flagship initiative supporting young changemakers to transform bold ideas into practical sustainability solutions through community pitching, voting, seed funding, and mentorship.
• The Eco-anxiety Africa Project (TEAP) A project addressing youth eco-anxiety across Africa, supporting mental and emotional wellbeing in the face of climate change.
• Zen by SustyVibes A workspace offering sustainable spaces designed for calm and productivity.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800+ SustyVibers engaged across multiple countries
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Allianz Nigeria InsuranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsurance partner supporting organizational operations
• ARCTICminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting climate and sustainability initiatives
• Green Campus InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampus sustainability partner for greenskilling initiatives
• WecyclersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNigerian waste management and recycling organization for Susty Marshalls program
• Salpha EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable energy partner
• Wildlife Conservation SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner for biodiversity programs
• United Way Greater NigeriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian and community development partner
• The Fair Plastic AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Susty Marshalls program - formalizing waste picker inclusion in circular economy
• LAWMA (Lagos State Waste Management Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for Susty Marshalls - waste picker recognition and integration
• LASHMA (Lagos State Health Management Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth insurance partner providing coverage for waste pickers in Susty Marshalls program
• Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry recycling initiative partner for Susty Marshalls
• Wema BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial partner for Susty Marshalls - financial literacy for waste pickers
• GIVOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaste management partner for Susty Marshalls
• WasteXchangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaste solutions partner for Susty Marshalls
• LEAP AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth leadership development partner for Street Conference and programs
• YDOS (Youth Day of Service)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth service organization partner for community events
• Nigeria For NatureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNature conservation partner for Communitrees program
• Lensational UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhotography partner for Street Dreams Phase One - trained 10 women in Niger Delta in environmental storytelling through photography
• PortHarcourt Global ShapersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Street Dreams in Port Harcourt
• AshokacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial entrepreneurship network partner supporting Street Dreams and innovators
• Durian NigeriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner for Street Dreams Phase Two upcycling training center
• Goethe InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural institute partner for Lotus program - feminist leadership and creativity
• House of African Feminisms (HoAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican feminist network partner for Lotus program

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Take Action Global: Youth-led climate education and action network active across multiple countries; comparable in mission, youth-led governance, and SDG-aligned educational programming similar to Susty Schools.
• Salpha Energy: Nigeria-based clean-energy and sustainability company; comparable because SustyVibes lists Salpha as an active sustainability-program partner, and both serve the Nigerian sustainability/green-skills ecosystem.
• Wecyclers: Nigerian waste-management and recycling social enterprise; comparable because SustyVibes is an active Susty Marshalls program partner and both operate in Lagos-based informal-waste-sector inclusion.
• LEAP Africa: Nigeria-based youth leadership and social innovation nonprofit focused on young Africans; directly comparable as a community-based, youth-development NGO operating across Nigeria with overlapping programming in leadership and civic engagement.
• United Way Greater Nigeria: Nigeria-focused humanitarian and community-development nonprofit; comparable as a SustyVibes partner and as a community-services nonprofit operating across multiple Nigerian cities with overlapping beneficiary bases.

Broad incumbents

• Greenpeace Africa: Africa-focused environmental campaigning organization; comparable in mission and Nigerian operational footprint, but with substantially larger scale and a more confrontational advocacy posture.
• Ashoka: Global social-entrepreneurship network supporting leading changemakers; comparable because SustyVibes is an Ashoka partner, and both operate in the same ecosystem identifying and backing youth social innovators across Africa.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: Large international conservation NGO; comparable as an active SustyVibes partner for biodiversity programming and as a broader incumbent in the same Africa-focused conservation-finance ecosystem.
• Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI): Intergovernmental organization supporting green-growth programs in developing countries; comparable as a potential institutional partner and competitor for the same GEF/embassy climate-finance pool that funds SustyVibes.
• 350.org: Global grassroots climate movement with strong African presence; comparable as a much larger-scale community-led climate activism organization that competes for the same institutional climate-finance pool.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/susty-vibes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SustyVibes