Straight Forward Progressive CBO

WAKE UP, TAKE ACTION & BUILD SELF-RELIANCE!

At Straight Forward Progressive CBO, our vision is to build a resilient, self-reliant and sustainable community where people turn their skills, ideas and available resources into better livelihoods.

We encourage every household and community member to identify activities that can enhance food security and nutrition while generating income and protecting the environment too. Let us not always wait for help from far away—there is something we can start with what we have, where we are.

We are proud of our members who took action and grew Yellow Beans and Nyota Beans, proving that food production can also create income opportunities.

We are also proud of our tree nursery, with seedlings now ready for transplanting. Planting these trees is an investment in our environment, climate resilience and future generations.

COMMUNITY CALL TO ACTION:
What are we going to start today? Establish a kitchen garden, plant trees, grow beans, raise seedlings, or start another activity that can put food on our table and income in our pocket.

Stop waiting. Let's start where we are. Start with what we have. Start today!

Together, let us grow food, grow trees, grow income and grow a stronger community.

Straight Forward Progressive CBO — We Learn and Grow Together.

Simple Models, Smart Use of Space, Better Environmental Protection

Our simple kitchen garden models demonstrate that we can produce food efficiently without putting unnecessary pressure on the natural environment.
By making better use of available spaces through models such as cone gardens, raised beds, sunken beds, Zai pits, moist beds and sack/container gardens, we can grow more within limited areas while reducing the need to clear or extensively disturb natural land.
This approach helps us protect existing vegetation, conserve soil and water, reduce land disturbance and make productive use of small spaces. It is a practical step towards sustainable food production while keeping our environment protected.

Use the space wisely. Grow sustainably. Protect nature.

Update from our Tree Nursery

Despite the lack of rains and rising temperatures, our seedlings are still thriving!
A big shout-out to our dedicated Environment Team Lead and the entire team for their hard work and commitment in keeping the nursery alive under these tough climatic conditions. Your resilience keeps our green dream alive.

At Straight Forward Progressive CBO, we remain committed to climate action, no matter the weather.

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Ogutu Alexander, GOOD DEEDS DAY MOROCCO

Preserving Our Culture, Heritage and Indigenous Knowledge

Straight Forward Progressive CBO (SFPCBO) was honoured to have one of our members represent the group at the launch of the Agroecological & Indigenous Food Systems Curriculum by Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network (KOWYN) at Paradise Hotel, Eldama Ravine.
The launch was particularly meaningful to us because preservation of culture and heritage is already part of our community work. Through our meetings, mentorship sessions and practical demonstrations, we create spaces for knowledge sharing across generations, while engaging our elders as important custodians of indigenous knowledge.
The event was also a valuable opportunity for networking and connecting with other partners, community representatives, farmers, elders and stakeholders working towards sustainable and resilient communities.
We believe that connecting indigenous knowledge with sustainable practices can strengthen food sovereignty, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, soil health and community self-reliance.
We appreciate Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network- KOWYN for creating this important platform to preserve and promote indigenous knowledge while bringing different stakeholders together.

Learning from our roots, connecting with others, and building a resilient future together.

Preparing for the KATC Mashinani Field Day at Poror

Over the weekend, two officials from Straight Forward Progressive CBO visited Bishop Lawrence Bomet Farm to assess progress and identify areas for improvement ahead of the upcoming KATC Mashinani Field Day.
Together with Vicky, the ATC representative, Mrs Ruth Bomett,Upendo Fellowship and farm workers, we carried out mulching of the vegetables to help retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperature and improve soil fertility as the mulch decomposes.
We also established additional simple models including raised moist beds, raised beds, sunken beds and a conical garden using locally available sticks.
These models demonstrate that productive kitchen gardens do not require expensive materials. Simple, locally available resources can help conserve water, improve soil fertility, maximise space and make food production more affordable and accessible.
The host appreciated the work done as we look forward to adding more models ahead of the field day.

Simple Solutions. Practical Action. Resilient Communities.

PUTTING KNOWLEDGE INTO ACTION!

Yesterday, one of our members had the opportunity to provide technical guidance and supervision to the Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network during the establishment of practical kitchen garden technologies. He was accompanied by another SFPCBO member who supported the exercise.

The session also brought together members of Milimani Women Group, who had been invited for practical demonstrations and hands-on learning.

Both the assigned casual workers and the participating women actively took part in the establishment process, turning the session into a truly practical learning experience.

Together, we successfully established a cone garden, raised moist bed and raised bed. We had planned to establish Zai pits and a fertility trench, but the rocky nature of the site made these technologies unsuitable for that particular location.

This provided another important learning point: different sites require different technologies, and successful kitchen gardening starts with choosing models that suit the local soil and terrain.

The participants were impressed by the practical work, while the Koibatek Ogiek team expressed their appreciation for the job well done.

We are grateful for the opportunity to share knowledge, demonstrate practical solutions and learn together with fellow community members.
Together We Learn. Together We Grow. Together We Transform Communities.

Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network- KOWYN

FROM LEARNING TO ACTION!PRACTICAL BUSINESS SKILLS!

Six members of Straight Forward Progressive CBO had the opportunity to join fellow participants at Koibatek Agricultural Training Centre (KATC) for practical Business Skills Training on 20th August 2026.

Our members gained hands-on skills in baking bread and cakes using locally available materials, including converting a simple Jiko and sufuria into an oven. We also learnt how to prepare Jik, Dettol, hand wash and liquid soap safely and correctly.

The team was further introduced to solar ovens and vegetable solar dryers by Mrs. Ruth from Upendo Fellowship, Poror, demonstrating simple ways of harnessing solar energy for cooking and food preservation,therefore, enhancing value addition

We sincerely appreciate Fridah and the KATC team, Upendo Fellowship, and all the trainers for sharing these valuable skills. The training was officially launched by Hon. Risper Chepkonga, Baringo County CEC Member for Agriculture, Livestock, Blue Economy and Irrigation, who encouraged communities to embrace entrepreneurship for social and economic empowerment.

The day ended with joyful celebrations, as participants cut and shared the homemade bread and cakes prepared using both the Jiko and solar oven, followed by the presentation of the homemade detergents. It was a wonderful demonstration that simple, affordable skills can help households reduce costs, create opportunities and build self-reliance.

For our members, this was a take-home assignment—to share the knowledge gained and become ambassadors of change within our communities.

Congratulations to our members for their active participation!

Together We Learn. Together We Grow. Together We Transform Communities.