Friends of Ngong Road

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

By Leave a Comment

Letter from Paula

Dear Friends,

Dr. Izabela Steflja, professor of Global Development at Tulane University, attended camp 2017. I spoke to a couple of Dr. Steflja’s classes at Tulane in April and at that time we began a conversation that I believe is going to yield deep insights for Friends of Ngong Road. For ten years we have been collecting data about the program using SalesForce.com. We are beginning to mine that data and the results are very encouraging. Our analyses tell us that the program is yielding strong, positive results – in academics and ultimately in employment.

However, we want to understand not just what our results have been but why we have achieved the results. Dr. Steflja designed an interview questionnaire and conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 35 secondary and post-secondary students from the program during her recent time in Kenya. In a future publication, we will share both our results and our findings as to why we have achieved them.

For now, I would like to share a story with you about a question Dr. Steflja threw into the interview at the last minute. She asked each person, “If you were rich, what would you do with the money?” The thing that struck her as unique about the responses is that 100% of respondents answered the same way. Every student she interviewed said that if they were rich, they would sponsor as many children as they could possibly afford.

She explained to me that among children in the program, the definition of rich is someone who can afford to help children they are not related to. For sponsored children, one of the magical things about having a sponsor is that sponsors are rich enough to help children they don’t even know. For our children, that is the definition of wealth.

Imagine – 100% of those interviewed answered the same way.

What would you do if you were rich? For children in this program, you are rich! Thank you for sharing your wealth with them. We hope that sharing your wealth has given you a rich and enjoyable experience.

You are making a difference. Thank you for all you do.

Paula Meyer
President

By Leave a Comment

FONR is in the 2017 MINN Summit

Friends of Ngong Road is proud to be involved in the 2017 MINN Summit as a marketplace host! Organized by the Minnesota International NGO Network (MINN), this full-day conference offers a wide-range of theme-based discussions, networking and wellness activities, and a music and dance performance. You can check out the full schedule here.

This year, attendees will gain access to an exciting new lineup of activities, including morning and afternoon breakout sessions and lots of opportunities for networking and celebrating in between. The event kicks off with a keynote session featuring Ben Powell, Founder and CEO of Agora Partnerships, and Rajiv Khanna, Director of Philanthropic Partnerships at Thousand Currents. Friends of Ngong Road will be participating in the MINN IDEA Summit Marketplace event. We’ll have information about our programs, sponsorship and trips available along with handicrafts for purchase.

The MINN Summit is a fun and engaging experience that brings together a remarkable community of global development practitioners and learners. Since 2013, the annual event has brought together more than 850 participants, 100 speakers, and 350 unique organizations. Learn more about the event and register at https://www.minnesotangos.org/summit2017

By 1 Comment

Wycliffe

Wycliffe joined the program. Through the support network, her mother learned about the Friends of Ngong Road. She applied almost immediately and was overjoyed to learn that her son, was accepted.

Wycliffe has always had a charming, outgoing personality and stuck close to the staff at Ngong Road Children’s Foundation and his sponsor, Tom Gleason. Among Friends of Ngong Road and Ngong Road Children’s Foundation. He found positive mentors to help him build resiliency and he learned how to recognize and build on his strengths.

Graduating high school, he faced a challenge in the business course that exceeded his expectations . With the trusted advice of caring adults around him, Wycliffe changed his path and took a barista course. Today He is an intern at Connect Coffee and earns a comfortable income of at least three times the normal slum wage.  This puts him on the first rung on his way up the ladder into the Kenyan middle class.  Wycliffe talks excitedly about becoming a manager and working his way into more responsibility at Connect Coffee.
Students who graduate from our program and add some post-secondary training are highly employable.  With the academic and leadership training they have received at Friends of Ngong Road and Ngong Road Children’s Foundation, they are able to escape the slums and move into the middle class.

Way to go Wycliffe!

By Leave a Comment

Transform a Life Today!

We have 22 open spots (at least) for students to join the program yet this year and 200 students are on the waiting list. Are you thinking about becoming a sponsor or supporting another student? Do you know someone who may be interested? Now is the time!

Here is what some of our current sponsors have said:

  • It is so much fun to watch my student grow and change over the years.
  • I have a family of boys. What a treat to learn about a girl in another country.
  • I started sponsoring another student for my grandsons to correspond with. I can teach them about being a global citizen, generosity, and another culture. And it is fun!

You can sign-up by going to https://ngongroad.org/sponsor or by contacting Development Director, Lacey Kraft at lacey@ngongroad.org or 612-568-4211.

Here are some students in need of sponsorship:

Brandon Odhiambo, age 7
Valentine Njeri, age 9
Ryan Karanja, age 7

By Leave a Comment

Letter from Nairobi- Camps and US Trip

Dear Friends of Ngong Road,

We are so very busy here in Ngong Road! We had camps this year and a medical case for one of our students.

Camp 2017
In August we held successful Leadership, Grammar, and Senior Camps at Naromoru Girls School in Nyeri County over 13 days. This took place between 12th August and 24th August 2017. There was also a one-day camp in Nairobi for little kids on 25th August 2017. After Leadership Camp where 32 of our older students learned how to run the camp, three camps based on age groupings were held. Altogether 275 kids went camping, 97 to Grammar camp, 157 to Senior Camp, and 21 to Little Kids Camp.

The students enjoyed all sorts of activities ranging from team spirit-building, team competitions, music and dance, crazy games, tournament, and our own “Olympic games”. They also enjoyed rotations that comprised Arts and crafts (tie-dyeing a shirt) and educative lessons. The highlight of the camp was a field trip to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the largest conservancy in Laikipia South. There we saw the “Big Five” (an elephant, leopard, buffalo, lion, and white and black rhinos). The students were also treated to a balanced diet of three meals a day.

Others who attended the camps were: 10 US volunteers, 5 NRCF Board members, NRCF Programme Director, 12 NRCF staff, one Kenyan sponsor (Chris Adams) accompanied by Emmanuel Gatimu (NRCF Founding Board member), 12 Post-Secondary students and 3 Karibu Loo staff.

There was a serious medical case of Bernard Ouma who was run over by a bus breaking his left leg femur and dislocating the right ankle. He was taken to Nanyuki Cottage hospital for surgery and was discharged after a week. He is recuperating and the doctors have assured us that he will recover fast owing to his age (19 years old).

We are grateful to all sponsors and well-wishers who donated towards this year’s camp and whose efforts enabled us to put smiles on the children’s faces and build a great NRCF family bond. Thumbs up to Tile and Carpet Centre here in Nairobi for donating most of the dry food used during camp.

Upcoming Trip to the USA
I am excited about my trip to the US which will give me an opportunity of meeting our treasured sponsors and donors. The trip commences with my departure from Nairobi on 27th October 2017. While in the US, I plan to attend the Portable Sanitation Association International (PSAI) Conference from 1st to 4th November 2017 in Minneapolis. The knowledge that I will gather from the conference will empower me with the skills of running Karibu Loo in a more effective and efficient manner.

After that my schedule includes several small group gatherings with individuals, businesses, and churches that support the program. It also includes participating in the Annual Gathering held at Surly in Minneapolis on 13th November. I am looking forward to a series of training programs including SalesForce training, Google training, and training titled Leading with a Theory of Change. I will be working with members of the FONR staff and board to finalize the NRCF 5-year Strategic Plan, and to present the 2018 NRCF Plan. I have been invited to attend the SMME Rotary Club Meeting and to visit Tulane University in New Orleans to make a presentation in a sustainable development class. Before I return to Nairobi, I will also spend a week with my friends and relatives in New York City. I will return to Kenya on 24th November 2017.

I am humbled by the responsibility bestowed upon me to manage Karibu Loo Limited as an additional responsibility. My team and I are equal to the task and are eager to steer that business to greater heights of achievement.

Thank you for supporting Ngong Road Children’s Foundation through Friends of Ngong Road. I look forward to meeting many of you soon.

Maureen Mulievi
Executive Director, Ngong Road Children’s Foundation, and
Acting General Manager, Karibu Loo