Friends of Ngong Road

We empower Nairobi children living in poverty to transform their lives through education and support, leading to employment.

Archives for June 2022

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Sam receives the highest KCSE test score!

This spring, the high school seniors in Kenya took their KCSE exams (similar to the SAT or ACT in the US). It is a series of exams that is extremely rigorous and takes days and days to complete. This year, Sam received the highest score of any student in our program – ever! He scored a solid A. 

We are so excited and proud of his accomplishment. This score means he will likely be recruited by the Kenyan government to attend a prestigious university for his post-secondary studies. We hope this achievement will show the younger students in our program that it is possible to reach their goals and transform their lives through education. Congratulations, Sam on passing your KCSE! 

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Welcome Carole, our new Executive Director!

Carole Partikokos has joined Friends of Ngong Road as Executive Director, a new position for us. She has a great passion for our mission and is quickly immersing herself in the organization, both in the U.S. and in Kenya. 

After spending the past 15 years in roles of increasing responsibility at Books for Africa, Carole was most recently the Director of Philanthropy there. During her 20 years of professional experience, she has stewarded resources for the advancement of education and social support for African children. Carole’s passion for African children began during her college years when she studied and volunteered in Senegal. She is energized by Friends of Ngong Road’s strategic plan to double our impact in Kenya in the next five years.

Carole is excited about driving our plan to double the number of students served. This includes driving awareness of our program, building our donor base, expanding the number of sponsors,  developing a grants program to build capacity, and leveraging connections in Nairobi to expand internship and employment opportunities.

“I see the dedication of the staff, volunteers, and Kenya team, and look forward to rallying my network to deliver on the mission. I believe that there are enough resources to go around in the world, and by redistributing wealth, expertise, and high expectations, all children have an opportunity to prosper. The dynamic Friends of Ngong Road network delivers on this. I look forward to meeting many of you in the months to come.”

We are planning an informal gathering for people to meet Carole in person.  More details to follow.  

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Elimu Hub is open!

Elimu Hub opened on May 18. 

The Ngong Road Children’s Foundation site, which is close to Nairobi’s administrative building, is home to Elimu Hub, which is the hub for educational activities, resources, and community. In Swahili, the word “Elimu” means education.

It is enclosed by a secure wall that gives students a sense of security and protection in a volatile and occasionally violent environment. Our updated computer lab and larger library are located at Elimu Hub.
The library is an important resource center for our students as most of them are in school. Besides the books we have acquired through the years, Braeburn School donated more books that will be beneficial to our students. With this gift, we now have more books for our growing community. All this will help us to ensure that our students achieve their academic goals.

The computer lab will be helpful for our students as a tool in their education. Primary-age students from Nelson Mandela Academy take computer classes at the computer lab during the week.  Students from other primary schools take classes on Saturdays before they attend the Saturday Program.  Recent High School graduates will take their Computer classes at the computer lab taught by Belmont College. Course graduates receive a certificate, making them marketable in the job market.

We have never before had a purpose-built structure. The new Elimu Hub, constructed using six 20-foot shipping containers, is a fun and practical structure that benefits both personnel and pupils. Its completion was eagerly awaited, ensuring a positive impact on the community.

Our launch ceremony had representatives from the organizations who made Elimu Hub possible. Representatives from the Rotary Club of Kikuyu, Braeburn School, and Container 254 attended. Rotary Club of South Minneapolis Evenings and Friends of Ngong Road recognized, despite not present. The event consisted of performances from our students who presented poems and dances. We even had a taekwondo performance. 

Kelvin Thuku, our program manager, appreciated the growth of Elimu Hub, from the idea to the implementation stage and finally its unveiling. He regards it as one of the biggest achievements of the organization. He also expressed his gratitude to the collaborators for their assistance with the project’s construction and completion.

The president of the Rotary Club of Kikuyu, Ann Ichung’wa, officially launched the Elimu Hub making it ready for use by our students.

We extend our utmost gratitude to our partner organizations and all of you that contributed to our Elimu Hub campaign This project would never have happened without your support. Thank you for helping us in the process of transforming the lives of our students.