In October, Elizabeth, an alumnus of the program and a Junior Advisory Board Member of the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation (NRCF- our operating partner in Nairobi), visited the United States for the first time. Elizabeth is the first program graduate to become a lawyer. She was invited as a special guest for the 2024 Community Gathering for Friends of Ngong Road. She is an example of the impact of our program and the success that can be achieved.
The community gathering in Minneapolis brought together supporters, staff, board members and sponsors all of whom have provided critical support for our mission. Elizabeth shared a unique perspective on her journey from the slums of Nairobi to being employed by a prestigious law firm.
Her life took a transformative turn in fourth grade when she joined the Friends of Ngong Road program and was matched with a sponsor. She found the much-needed support for her education. She embraced the opportunity with commitment and determination, achieving success through excellent academic performance. Elizabeth shared how the Friends of Ngong Road program provided her with invaluable opportunities and support that have propelled her educational journey. Elizabeth’s success shows that with the right support, and personal determination, a child is capable of transforming their life.
Reflecting on the occasion, she said, “It was interesting to meet all the individuals who attended and gain insight and advice related to my career. The warmth and encouragement I received were inspiring, and I left with a renewed commitment to contribute to positive change.”
Her journey was filled with meaningful encounters, including a special meeting with her sponsors (Steve Smith and Deborah Zvosec) who have supported her educational journey. In addition to the Community Gathering, she presented at a reception hosted by Board Member Kim Jenson in St. Petersburg, Florida just before the hurricane arrived. She presented at small gatherings with donors and sponsors in Minneapolis, Edina, Stillwater, and Eastern Wisconsin.
Elizabeth made important connections in the legal community. She had a meeting with Kathleen Blatz, a longtime FoNR donor and the first female Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. She toured the Faegre Drinker headquarters in Minneapolis with Nate Brennaman and Julia Cross, who sponsor a student in our program. Lane Ayres, Director of the Law & Democracy Initiative at Books For Africa, engaged Elizabeth in the coordination of a donated Thomson Reuters law reference library at the International Federation of Women Lawyers. These lawyers who are also devoted to social justice have inspired Elizabeth’s career and personal philanthropy goals.
Elizabeth expressed deep gratitude for her trip, “I am immensely thankful to Ngong Road Children’s Foundation and Friends of Ngong Road for this life-changing opportunity. None of this would have been possible without the dedication of everyone involved in these organizations, and I am inspired to give back and support others as they have supported me.”
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