Our Story
Manawari is a Filipino word that signifies the realization of the deepest hopes and ambitions. Commonly used in conjunction with the Filipino word Hiraya, it evokes working toward realizing these aspirations, both for the individual and for the wider community. In this spirit, Manawari was born from a dream to elevate the voices, capacities, and expertise of Southeast Asian communities and youth in responding to the planetary crises of our times.
From their decades of engagement in the fields of environmental policy and governance, our founders, Niner, Aya, and Nicky, have seen how the sustained and progressive actions of civil society from the Global South are instrumental in realizing critical reforms locally and nationally, while also informing larger international campaigns and efforts.
We believe that their work should receive rightful support and recognition. Together, we advocate for inclusive and transformative actions that foreground grounded perspectives and solutions from communities that are at the frontlines of the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
Manawari SEA is the NGO arm of Parabukas, an international consultancy working on legal and policy issues related to climate change, the environment, and sustainable development. Learn more about Parabukas and its work here.