Archives for June 2024

June 28, 2024 By Nickson Odhiambo Leave a Comment

A school leader and a visionary pioneer in medicine

My name is Cheryl and I am 15 years old. I have a strong passion for reading novels and cooking. I live with both of my parents and two wonderful siblings. Currently, I am a student at Our Lady of Mercy, studying in Form 2. I am also honored to serve as my school’s assistant dining hall captain. My favorite subjects are biology and geography, and I am an active member of the debates club. In my free time, I often dedicate myself to studying. I also make sure to set aside time for entertainment, particularly on Saturdays.

In the future, I aspire to become a doctor because of my deep compassion for people. I want to be able to contribute to society by providing care and support to those in need. Furthermore, I hope to be able to fully support my family and live a fulfilling life. Additionally, I dream of the opportunity to travel and work in India, as they have some of the best doctors and medical equipment in the world. This would be an incredible experience and a chance to expand my knowledge and skills.

In addition, I would like to extend an invitation to sponsors and donors to support the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation. Your contribution can significantly impact the lives of underprivileged children, providing them with education, healthcare, and a brighter future.

Transform a life today.

June 28, 2024 By Sallyanne Atieno Leave a Comment

Floods in Nairobi affected schools and our families

In recent months, Kenya has faced devastating floods triggered by heavy rains significantly impacting various regions including the capital city, Nairobi. The floods, which began in March 2024, resulted in widespread destruction and displacement of people and businesses. The floods caused severe disruptions across Kenya, affecting over 750,000 people. This disaster claimed at least 267 lives, left about 188 injured, and displaced 281,835 individuals. The damage extended to critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and dams, further complicating rescue and relief efforts.

In Nairobi, the situation was particularly terrible. Flash floods transformed roads into rivers and submerged entire neighborhoods, especially in the slums. In the Kibera and Mathare areas, thousands of residents found their homes underwater, forcing many to seek temporary shelter. The flooding in Nairobi not only caused physical damage but also led to significant human casualties. At least 11 people were reported dead in the early days of the flooding, and over 9,000 people were displaced as homes were immersed in water.

Joseph, a grade 8 student in the program, was affected by the floods when it hit his home in the Riruta area. He and his family found themselves in a desperate situation as their house, situated at a low level with poor drainage, was completely flooded by the rising water. Most of their belongings were ruined, floating, or sinking in the dirty water. Every morning, they battled with buckets to scoop out the water, hoping to reclaim some sense of normalcy. They had to use machine-cut stones to raise their bed above the water level, just to have a dry place to sleep. This became their daily routine for some days.

Schools all over Kenya were affected. Classes were scheduled to begin for the second term on May 6, but on May 3, the president directed the Ministry of Education to keep schools closed indefinitely due to the severe weather conditions. He further instructed the Ministry of Education to collaborate with the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG CDF) to secure funding for the repair and rehabilitation of damaged government-run school infrastructure.

The flooding had a significant impact on one of the program’s focus schools, Nelson Mandela Primary. Typically, during school breaks, NRCF runs a vital lunch program at Nelson Mandela. This program is crucial as many parents cannot afford daily meals, making this lunch sometimes the only meal students receive each day. Unfortunately, the floods hit Nelson Mandela hard, causing challenges to our lunch program. The school’s kitchen was flooded, forcing the cooks to wear gumboots and take extra precautions to prepare meals safely and also keep themselves safe.

Additionally, the usual water supply from the school’s tank became suspect due to potential contamination from broken sewer lines caused by the flooding. To prevent the risk of a possible cholera outbreak, the program opted to purchase clean water from vendors resulting in additional costs to ensure the safety and health of the students.

The floods highlighted the vulnerabilities of Kenyan infrastructure and the urgent need for improved disaster preparedness and response mechanisms. Experts pointed out that the frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events are linked to climate change. As a result, there is a growing call for more vigorous climate action and policies that address the environmental challenges contributing to these natural disasters.

June 27, 2024 By Victor Wambua Leave a Comment

Sponsor portal improvements

The sponsor portal is the online platform to connect with your sponsored students. On the portal, you can exchange e-letters, video messages, and photos. You can also easily access your student’s school marks, and more resources on how to connect with your student.

We’ve recognized different areas of the portal that can be made more user-friendly and efficient. One challenge that sponsors with multiple students have faced when accessing the portal. Issues such as slow launch times and frequent timeouts have been particularly problematic for sponsors with several students. These performance issues highlighted the need for an improved portal that provides a faster and more efficient user experience.

In response to these challenges, we have implemented significant improvements to enhance portal performance. The upgraded portal now features a home page where sponsors will see a list of all their students, organized by school year. Sponsors can easily click on the student they wish to correspond with, and the portal will load only that student’s data. This significantly reduces load times, ensuring a smoother and quicker experience.

You will notice all student profiles look different, by first showing correspondence, photos and finally school marks. You can click on the down arrows to immediately bring you to the section you want. The student assessments have been removed from the portal for student privacy, in accordance with a new Kenyan privacy law.

These optimizations mark a crucial step in our ongoing efforts to improve portal usability for both sponsors and students. In the future, you will continue to see improvements and changes to the portal in accordance with the new Kenyan privacy law. You will continue to be updated as changes are made. If you have any questions about the portal, or issues using it, please contact Naomi, the Donor Relations Associate at naomi@ngongroad.org.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to make the portal better for everyone.

June 27, 2024 By Sallyanne Atieno 1 Comment

Recent Graduates

Perpetual

When Perpetual joined the program in 2010, it was like opening a door to a new world. Growing up in the slums of Dagoretti, getting quality education had always seemed like an impossible dream. But Perpetual was a bright and determined student, and she was ready to change her story. From her early days in primary school, she worked tirelessly, showing an unbreakable spirit and incredible hard work. By 2019, her dreams took her to one of the country’s top universities. There, she started a Bachelor of Business Information Technology (BBIT) degree course, a challenging four-year journey that she successfully completed in 2023.

Throughout her university years, Perpetual didn’t just shine in her studies, she also poured her heart into helping others. Every Saturday, she volunteered at the NRCF program, offering guidance and support to younger students who looked up to her. With her passion for photography, she captured and shared the stories of many, hoping to inspire others to support not just one student, but the entire program. Her impressive resume includes a contract position with Lido Nation, one of NRCF’s valued partners, where she worked as a blockchain website translator. Additionally, she was a vital member of the TechMates team, contributing her talents as a developer. She is actively seeking a tech support position.

Perpetual attributes her clear and promising future to the unwavering support of the program. Her family, particularly her grandmother, are beyond excited as they wait to see Perpetual putting on a graduation gown, something they never thought they would live to witness. “The education and development opportunities provided to her have been life-changing, paving the way for her to achieve her dream of hearing her name being mentioned as a graduate”, her grandmother smilingly said. She is now on the verge of entering the professional world, armed with knowledge, experience, and a deep-seated gratitude for the support that has brought her this far.

Gslaider (G-sly-der)

In 2009, Gslaider joined our program after years of her parents uncertainty over whether she would ever get the chance to go to school; trapped in a cycle of poverty like so many others. Joining the program was a source of hope not only for Gslaider but for the entire family. Fueled by this hope, Gslaider embarked on her educational journey. After her high school graduation, she pursued a diploma in Social Work and Community Development, driven by a deep desire to help others. She completed her degree last November. It was not just an academic pursuit for her; it was a heartfelt mission to enhance human well-being and make a tangible difference in her community.

Her commitment to social work was evident as she engaged in various volunteer activities during her college years. She joined the Rotary Club of Mount Kenya, where she actively participated in fieldwork and volunteered at children’s homes and rehabilitation centers. She interned with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), which provided her with invaluable insights and deepened her understanding of the struggles faced by individuals with disabilities.

Currently, she works as a waiter and cashier in a restaurant as she looks for employment in her field. This job is enabling her to support herself and her siblings, something she never thought she would be able to do. Her mom is proud of her, and she is hopeful that her determination and success will serve as an example to other girls in the community, showing them that it is possible to break free from the vicious cycle of poverty. Her journey has been profoundly impacted by our program, allowing her transformation from a hopeless girl into an elite achiever.

June 27, 2024 By Sallyanne Atieno 1 Comment

Creating Techies

Kenya is a key player in Africa’s tech landscape and has experienced remarkable growth in technology adoption and innovation. The nation is known for its vibrant tech ecosystem, which has propelled it to the forefront of technological advancement in the region. Kenya boasts a thriving startup scene with numerous tech hubs and incubators, such as iHub and the Kenya Innovation Hub. These centers provide crucial support for entrepreneurs, offering mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to funding. Nairobi, the capital city, is a hotspot for tech startups, fostering innovation in various sectors including agriculture, health, education, and e-commerce.

Kenya is investing in education and skill development to nurture a tech-savvy workforce. Initiatives like the Presidential Digital Talent Program aim to develop ICT talent and bridge the skills gap. Universities and colleges are expanding their computer science and IT programs while coding bootcamps and online courses are becoming popular avenues for acquiring tech skills. Accordingly, Ngong Road Children’s Foundation has been creating programs aimed at fostering technological advancements for our students.

NRCF’s technology programs are structured as below:

Primary	Secondary	Post-secondary	Alumni
Basic computer training	Advanced computer training	Computer packages certification	TechMates programming and digital marketing training internships
Computer applications training	Programming courses	Coding boot camps	Lido Nation relationship for developer internship
Scratch programming		Laptop lending programs	Small business training
Creative sessions		DirectEd partnership
Science mill camps
Elimu Hub (Computer Lab + Library)			Blockchain Lab

Michael, one of our 2023 high school graduates, exemplifies the success of our technology-focused programs. Below, he shares his experiences and those of his peers in embracing technology.

“At the beginning of the year, we underwent computer training, which provided us with essential skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and email writing among others. This foundational knowledge prepared us for both academic and professional endeavors.

We then participated in a coding bootcamp offered by Directed Development Foundation. Throughout this program, we engaged in various technology-driven projects. For instance, we created a simple website using HTML, styled it with custom CSS, and made it functional with JavaScript. One of my projects was a website for a taco restaurant, where I structured, styled, and added interactive features.

Additionally, we developed a Chrome extension to save visited URLs and created personal professional portfolios to help us in our future careers. We also built a blog post platform using the MERN stack, enabling users to publish blog posts. Our training even extended to working with large language models, similar to ChatGPT.

Beyond the structured projects, I pursued personal endeavors during the bootcamp. I created a racing game, a PDF loader chatbot, and a political blog post. Currently, I am delving into machine learning, training generative pretrained transformers (GPT). My passion for technology has grown immensely, and I am thrilled to have a strong foundation in this field. In September, I will be joining the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) to study mathematics and computer science, which aligns with my interests and offers more advanced learning opportunities than the data science course I was initially selected for.”

Michael’s journey is an example of the impact of our technological programs and how our students can be prepared to thrive in their future careers. As the country continues to invest in education and skill development, tech programs like these are crucial in fostering the next generation of tech-savvy professionals. By nurturing young talents and equipping them with essential skills, Kenya is set to remain at the forefront of technological advancement, driving innovation and growth across various sectors.