Let’s Start Over… If We Can!

As the calendar turns to 2026, it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and celebrate the highs, lows, and lessons of the past year. 2025 was a rollercoaster for Forezava—a year of collaborations, growth, challenges, and renewed inspiration.

We kicked off the year in January with an energetic collaboration alongside Lusengeli Secondary, hosting a handball tournament that drew nearly 25 schools and over 300 students from across Vihiga County. The excitement didn’t stop there—we proudly supported the Sabatia Constituency winners, Lusengeli and Vokoli High School, as they competed in the Regional Kenya Secondary School Handball games. Sports, as always, proved to be a powerful way to connect, inspire, and mobilize youth.

February opened doors for dialogue. The Siaya Youth Network invited us to contribute to discussions on youth issues, bridging gaps between young voices and government decision-making. Our contributions—both in-person and digital—helped shape actionable memoranda to inform policy and youth-focused financing. Alongside this, we nurtured our environmental commitments with World Water Day tree growing initiatives led by the County Government of Vihiga, supplementing our own tree seedling programs with 30,000 potting bags. Our engagement with TISA programs further strengthened rural governance for the Right to Adequate Food, reaffirming our dedication to food security and community empowerment.

March and April were all about capacity building. Through the FAO-funded Farm Forestry Facility Direct Beneficiary Grant, we equipped 30 members of Progressive Youth Group with practical and seminar-based skills in leadership, governance, business planning, value chain analysis, African leafy vegetables, tree seedlings, and beekeeping. Creative engagement became central to our work—our Zoom Nature campaigns scaled with daily photo and video infographics, bringing environmental action and education directly to the community. However, the sudden cancellation of our USAID funding in April tested us deeply. With unpaid intern stipends and disrupted commitments, morale took a hit, forcing some to reconsider their involvement. Yet, even in this strain, our resolve to support the Forezava Scholars and community initiatives endured.

May saw renewed momentum through school-based tree planting across 30 schools including El’longo Primary, Tsimbalo, and Demesi, totaling over 15,000 seedlings during the long rains. Collaboration with community organizations like MESI CBO expanded our reach, while local sports teams such as Black Rovers, Black Strikers, and Chavakali became vital partners in connecting with youth. This period sparked the vision for the Forezava Sports and Arts Center and the Forezava Youth Sports Academy, integrating our long-standing partnership with Kasarani Youth Sports Academy into a more localized, impact-focused initiative.

In June, we stepped onto the global stage at the Innovate4Climate Summit in Sevilla, Spain. Spotlight interviews by the World Bank and UNDP amplified our work internationally, opening doors for partnerships and informing our strategic plans for 2026. July was quieter but meaningful, as youth across Vihiga County came together to foster cross-county dialogue and unity.

August was another productive month in environmental action, averaging 8,500 trees planted across farms, schools, riparian zones, and Maragoli Hills. We also co-hosted the Fight Inequality Alliance Usawa Mashinani event with Tambua Social Justice Center and MESI CBO, reinforcing our commitment to social equity.

October and November focused on securing resources and equipment for FAO-supported investments—quality seeds, beekeeping tools, and tree nursery essentials. November was also a landmark month for youth sports: we officially renamed Kasarani Youth Sports Academy to Forezava Youth Sports Academy and launched the Forezava Sports and Arts Center in Mbihi. Bikes from the Valve Cycle project, a 55-inch TV, and other equipment breathed life into the center, culminating in the successful 1st edition of the Forezava North East Bunyore Tournament, featuring over 30 teams and thousands of spectators.

December brought the year full circle with community initiatives across Vihiga County. From tree planting with Destiny CBO in Cheptulu, to radio and TV conversations, to youth-friendly games through the sports and arts center, the month highlighted both action and celebration. We deepened our cultural understanding by participating in local celebrations of the Logooli, Anyole, Tiriki, and Terik communities, honoring ethnographic and indigenous knowledge as an integral part of our work.

2025 reminded us that progress is rarely linear. It comes with victories, setbacks, and moments of reflection. Yet, as we step into 2026, Forezava is fueled by lessons learned, strengthened by partnerships, and inspired by the communities we serve.

Here’s to starting over—stronger, wiser, and more determined than ever.

About Author: Kevin Makova