On this year’s International Day of Forests, the Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network (KOWYN) chose to move beyond rhetoric and into the soil. With the global theme focusing on “Forests and Economies,” we directed our energy toward the most vital component of our regional landscape: the people who steward it. We believe that our community’s economic health is inextricably […]
At the Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network (KOWYN), we understand that our landscape is a living system. When we heal the riverbanks, we heal the valleys; when we restore the canopy, we secure the future. Recently, our team traveled to the cool, shaded banks of the River Perkera to meet with the Eldama Ravine Zonal Tree Nursery Organization (KCC), […]
At the Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network (KOWYN), our mission to restore the land and reclaim our health is expanding. We believe that the resilience we cultivate in one community must become the standard for the entire region. Recently, our team conducted a series of strategic site visits across Toniok, Kapng’etot, and Kabimoi, working hand-in-hand with the Genesis Self-Help […]
At the Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network (KOWYN), we often say that our mission goes beyond agriculture. Agriculture is merely the vessel; the true goal is the restoration of our community’s health, heritage, and connection to the land. This philosophy was at the heart of our recent visit to Sigoro, where we spent a day with the Moiben Self-Help […]
At the Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network (KOWYN), we believe that true power is found in the soil. Today was a day defined by sweat, collective action, and the unwavering pursuit of sovereignty as we joined the Tumaini Ogiek Women Group to launch two pillars of their community’s future: a new Agroecology Demonstration Farm and a fully commissioned Community […]
At the Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network (KOWYN), we know that to drive transformative change for our community, our team must be as resilient and vibrant as the forests and farms we serve. This past weekend, we took a necessary step back from the field to focus on the people behind the mission, spending an intensive team-building retreat at […]
The hills of Chemoson/Tinet have long held the secrets of Ogiek resilience. Yesterday, those hills became a global stage as the Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network (KOWYN) hosted an international delegation for a landmark strategic benchmarking visit at the Kibarasoi Community Seedbank. This gathering was a powerful reminder that while our ancestral lands are unique, the struggle for Indigenous […]
At the Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network (KOWYN), we believe that the preservation of our past is the most powerful tool for securing our future. Today marks a truly historic milestone in our journey toward true food sovereignty and community resilience. We are incredibly proud to announce the official commissioning of three brand-new Indigenous Seed Banks—living vaults of our […]
At the Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network (KOWYN), we have long held the conviction that infrastructure is about far more than just bricks and mortar. It is about creating the foundational architecture for long-term community transformation. Earlier today, our Executive Director led the KOWYN team on a site visit to our developing Ogiek Community Seedbanks. These facilities represent the […]
Today marks a defining moment in the history of the Koibatek Ogiek people. At the Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network (KOWYN), we have always believed that the forest is not just a resource; it is our home, our identity, and our legacy. Today, we translated that belief into action by signing a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the […]