Our staff based in the US focus on the sponsor-child relationships that help our students excel and succeed. When asked, the students have indicated that these relationships are the ones that encourage and inspire them to perform well in their studies and beyond.
Lacey Kraft, Development Director
As Development Director, Lacey oversees all development activities, supporter communications and event management for Friends of Ngong Road. Lacey enjoys helping donors find joy when their passions are matched to the needs of the organization. She has seen how much of a difference the program can make in children’s lives when they have access to quality education, safety and well-being, and a supportive community.
Lacey has spent over six months in Kenya starting with her study abroad program where she studied Kiswahili, Kenyan history and culture and micro-business in 2010. Lacey holds her bachelors in Nonprofit and Public Management and Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the Carlson School of Management. Prior to working with Friends of Ngong Road Lacey held development positions at the Community Violence Intervention Center, where she helped complete a capital campaign for a new emergency shelter.
Lacey is excited to be working for an organization that is set apart by its exemplary values, strategy, and outcomes of helping to transform lives and break the cycle of poverty.
Michon Garrett, Information Systems and Business Manager
Michon is the organization’s “data guru”, taking care of data management, information systems management (Salesforce), reporting, and data processing. She also runs the operations side of the organization, including sending communications to sponsors for renewals, running our social media pages, working with the board on tech-related
projects such as the Sponsor Portal, and helping the staff and board members to understand and interpret the incredible amount of data we have collected over the years. Michon loves working for an organization that has a central mission which she is truly passionate about – educating children.
Michon started her career as a social worker, and spent time as a property manager for a non-profit organization in Minneapolis. After discovering her love of business operations, she headed back to college at Colorado State University for a degree in Business Management, while working part time for Friends of Ngong Road. As her role has expanded, she has been able to work with the rest of the staff in the US and Kenya to create a more streamlined system of communication between staff, and also for sponsors to better understand their students’ progress.
Jil Bakko, Accountant
Leah Switzer, Development Associate
As a Development Associate, Leah oversees the Ambassador volunteer program, as well as supports development projects and events for Friends of Ngong Road. Leah enjoys working with Ambassadors who are passionate about the organization’s mission, and helping them to lead initiatives to spread the word of the organization. She has seen how the lives of children can be transformed when they are given the opportunity of education.
Leah first went to Kenya with Paula Meyer in January 2007. She then returned in 2012 with her husband, Michael Switzer. They lived in Kenya for two years. During this time, she taught kindergarten at an International School and the couple volunteered with the organization on the weekends. Leah has a B.A. from Luther College in Elementary Education. She taught as an elementary school teacher for eight years prior to taking this position.
Leah is excited to now have a greater involvement in the organization. She is eager to help grow the Ambassador Program, so that more children are able to transform their lives.