Friends of Ngong Road

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

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Here We Go

Because of you,
realizing potential is possible.

Behind every smile is potential waiting to be realized. For nearly 20 years, Friends of Ngong Road has helped students in Nairobi’s informal settlements build futures filled with promise.

Now, we’re ready to take the next step — moving 100 students off our waitlist and onto the path of life transformation, opening doors to education, opportunity, and a bright future. Your support will help make that possible.

Donate Today

Have a question or prefer to donate in a different way? Reach out to giving@ngongroad.org and we’ll be happy to help.

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One of Minnesota’s Largest Foundations Supports Friends of Ngong Road with a $200,000 grant

OCTOBER 20, 2025

Friends of Ngong Road (FoNR) is honored to announce a $200,000 grant from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies (MACP) in support of organizational capacity building. This generous support marks a meaningful milestone in our nearly twenty-year journey to empower children in Nairobi’s informal settlements through education, support, and opportunity.

MACP, one of the nation’s largest private philanthropies, is guided by a clear vision: to make a meaningful difference in the world through support for work in communities, the environment, arts and culture, disaster relief, and quality of life. Their support of Friends of Ngong Road affirms both the importance of our mission and the promise of our next chapter of growth.

For Friends, capacity building means strengthening the systems, infrastructure, and leadership that make our student-centered model sustainable. It’s the kind of support that helps us develop momentum while we build—ensuring that as we expand access to education, healthcare, and employment pathways, we do so with stability and sustainability.

This is the first time Friends of Ngong Road has received funding from a major institutional foundation, and it signals growing recognition of our proven results. Since 2006, Friends has served hundreds of students, and nearly three-quarters of our alumni are now employed. That track record—and the resilience of our students and staff—has created both measurable outcomes and deep, community-based change.

We are deeply grateful to Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies for believing in our mission and helping to strengthen its foundation. Their partnership represents not only a financial commitment but a powerful vote of confidence in what Friends of Ngong Road stands for: that every child, no matter where they begin, deserves the chance to learn, grow, and thrive.

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My first month with Friends

Hi Friends,

I’m writing just a little more than one month into helping steward Friends of Ngong Road into its next chapter. Someone asked me today if it feels like I’ve been drinking from a fire hose — which in some ways, is true. But what I’ve found one month in is: although there’s been much I’ve been getting my arms around, what stands out is how this community has put its arms around me.

The top of mind example is our team in Kenya. I had a chance to spend a week with them in August both to get into the weeds on what we’re up to programmatically and to literally run through the weeds (mainly grass!) as part of Saturday program. Of all of the things I could rave about when it comes to our partners in Kenya, here’s what you need to know: their professionalism and diligence is only outdone by the genuine care and commitment they have to each other and our program. I am so grateful to call them partners and colleagues.

Back here in the States, it’s been wonderful and simply just a great time getting to know so many of our supporters. In these first thirty days I’ve met with nearly fifty of our supporters — from Santa Barbara to Chicago to the Twin Cities.

If we haven’t had a chance to meet, let’s find a time! You all are the wind in our sails; the reason we’re able to realize our mission. I’m so grateful for the nearly twenty years of support so many of you have provided, and look forward to meeting many more of you.

Looking ahead, here’s what you should expect from us:

  • As we approach our twentieth anniversary, we’re laying the foundation for the next twenty years. We’ll be reaching out to hear your perspective on how we can continue this work together.
  • We’re also entering our most critical fundraising season. Nearly two decades of transformation have been made possible by your generosity — and continued support will ensure we thrive in the years ahead. If you’ve given at year’s end before, expect to hear from me.
  • Finally, while the world feels uncertain, our commitment does not. Board and staff alike remain steadfast: change in a child’s life happens one day at a time, and you can count on us to be there daily for our students as we grow.

Let me close this post by sharing a conversation I had with one of our former students — now a Ngong Road case manager — Wence during a game of chess (Wence 2; Dan 1, by the way).

He said, “a student asked me today, ‘Who are you without your titles?’ Dan, how would you answer that same question?”

My answer was: we all carry so many titles in how we show up in the world. We all have so many ways we’d like to be seen. But at Friends of Ngong Road, it’s powerful to remember how much positive change can come from just one simple title: Friend.

In friendship,

Dan Fernelius
President, Friends of Ngong Road

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Hitting the road

Looking forward to my first trip to Kenya

When I first joined the board of Friends of Ngong Road nearly two years ago, traveling to Nairobi was something our Founder, Paula Meyer, insisted was something I “needed to do ASAP.” For many of us who’ve heard the same thing from Paula over the years, you may have reacted like I did: “That sounds like quite the undertaking!” Crossing an ocean, a hemisphere, and eight time zones across ~20 hours of travel is no small feat.

But my second reaction was: it really is a small feat compared to our mission—we’re committing to transforming lives one day at a time over the course of a decade (or more!), being there for children as they grow and develop, supporting them on the path towards completing their education leading to employment. Heading to Kenya is an easy road to take.

Which is why I’m so excited to share that I’m hitting the road to Kenya next week, August 21, along with Friends of Ngong Road’s COO, Amy Johnson. I can’t wait to hear from students, families, our staff, and supporters directly about their experience, and what our work means to them.

I want to hear from you, too. I’m holding a virtual Townhall on Monday, August 25 at 8:00 a.m. (US Central Time) where you can hear from me and Kelvin Thuku, Programmes Manager, as well as Friends of Ngong Road Board Chair, Kris Petersen. Bring your thoughts, well wishes, or questions—there’ll be ample time to hear from many of you during the Townhall. You can RSVP to join us here.

I’m excited to share more about my time in Kenya. If you have any recommendations, tips, or heads up about my travels, don’t hesitate to drop me a note at dan@ngongroad.org.