Partnership with Hand in Hand

At Bergman & Beving, we are committed to helping the village of Cheboin in Kenya by partnering with Hand in Hand. Our ambition is to help start 175 businesses and create 228 jobs by 2026 — and after two years, the project is delivering tangible results across the community.

251 members, 13 self-help groups

Two years in, the project has mobilised 251 members across 13 self-help groups — comfortably above the original target of 250 — with 170 women and 81 men actively taking part. The groups meet every two weeks, govern themselves through written constitutions, and run their own merry-go-round savings and table banking schemes. These community-based savings practices have given members reliable access to small loans, which they are using to start and expand enterprises. A Community-Based Organisation (CBO) is now operational, bringing together 73 members from three groups around a shared focus on the poultry value chain.

115 enterprises and 185 jobs created

All 13 groups have completed Hand in Hand's enterprise development training, gaining practical skills in business planning, marketing, costing, record-keeping and risk management. So far, 115 enterprises have been created or strengthened, generating 185 jobs across dairy, poultry, vegetables and mixed agriculture. Members have also been linked to external financial institutions such as Kenya Commercial Bank and the Kenya Tea Development Agency, where 54 members have together accessed approximately KES 255,000 (around USD 1,960) in financing to grow their businesses.

Sustainable farming and stronger gender equality

The Cheboin Agroecological Demo Farm continues to be a hands-on learning hub for regenerative agriculture and circular economy practices. Around 200 members have been trained in kitchen gardening and tree nursery management, and 400 tree seedlings have been distributed alongside agroforestry training to support healthier soils and long-term climate resilience. The programme also integrates the Gender Action Learning System (GALS), a participatory approach that opens up dialogue on land ownership, shared decision-making and household collaboration — strengthening the role of women both at home and in business.

A story from Cheboin: the Mema Widows Self-Help Group

One of the groups bringing these results to life is the Mema Widows Self-Help Group, founded in 2022 by more than 20 women in the hills of Merigi. After completing training in business planning and financial management, the group built up a revolving fund of around KES 98,000 (USD 750) through disciplined savings and table banking. In March 2025 they invested in 300 day-old chicks from Uzima Chicks Limited, and today around 200 mature hens are producing eggs across members' homesteads — with estimated earnings of about KES 95,000 (USD 730) after costs. Their next step is to consolidate production to negotiate better market prices together. As one of the members put it, they are no longer defined by hardship — they are businesspeople, planners and providers.