Dear Friends, This has been a busy time here in Nairobi at Ngong Road Children’s Foundation and camps are near.
Impact of Karibu Loo and employment on our students
Karibu Loo has been a great platform for job opportunities for our students. Getting entry-level jobs here in Kenya can take quite some time and is usually necessary before one gets a permanent job. The work experience has also helped our students to become productive and responsible citizens in our country.
They have learned how to keep a time schedule which is a key factor in self-management. They have become responsible as they can be left to run the event with minimal supervision when they are left attending to clients and taking care of the cabin units. They have also learned communication skills since the Karibu Loo logo sends a strong message (“helping to educate children”) so they have to explain to the interested client what the project is all about. They have also learned to interact with a diverse group of clientele – both middle and high-end customers. They have learned to work as a team. They have learned honesty and transparency while dealing with clients and issues involving money. They have learned to adapt to situation-developed customer relations. They have become independent. They are also able to earn a small stipend which takes care of their day-to-day expenses.
Getting ready for camp
Every year in August we organize a camp for all the children in the program. It is a chance for the children to escape the congestion and scares of the slums and spend time in a healthy, stimulating environment full of fun activities and learning experiences. We usually have four sessions of camps: Leadership Camp for students aged 15 and above who are selected to be junior counselors, Senior Camp for students aged 14 and above, Grammar Camp for students aged 10 to 13, and Little Kids Camp for students below 10 years.
We are in high gear planning for our 2015 camp. This year Leadership, Senior and Grammar Camps will be held on the campus of St. Francis Xavier Girls School in Naivasha from the 9th to the 21st of August. (Navisha is famous for its lake with many flamingoes). Little Kids Camp will be held at Luna Park in Nairobi on the 22nd of August. In camp, we divide our kids into groups of eight teams each having four squads for easy management and competition in various games.
Camp planning this year has been evolving
- Skype calls with Tom Gleason (the founder and Director of NRCF camps) have been held for planning and logistics such as budget and camp activities.
- We have already bought camp T-shirts for all campers and printing is in process. The T-shirts are in 8 different colors i.e. red, green, blue, yellow, electric, orange, grey, and jungle green.
- Team Leaders and Squad Leaders have been selected from a list of Team and Squad leaders from 2014 and new applications to help us run the camp.
- Adult Staff Counselors have been selected. This year we will have 10 graduates as adult staff. All caseworkers shall be at both camps too.
- Field Trips have been planned. Every year we take our kids on various field trips to see the natural resources and scenic beauty of our country. This year we shall have field trips during both Senior and Grammar Camp. During Senior Camp they will be hiking Mt. Longonot and during Grammar Camp they will have a boat ride on Lake Naivasha.
This year we will have six volunteers from the US joining us and bringing with them new ideas for camp.
Thank you for your support.
Peter Ndungu
Executive Director, Ngong Road Children’s Foundation
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