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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2021 Spring Appeal

Worldwide, this school year is like no other. For Ngong Road students, like Michelle, it’s even more exceptional. After being out of school for much of 2020, the 2021 school year sprung into action in January. This year will have four semesters compared to a typical three-semester year. 

Michelle and her fellow classmates will go non-stop until December… with no summer break. 


Please support the “2021: Spring Forward – No Summer Break Ahead” campaign and make a big difference for our students. We are seeking to raise $15,000, which has been matched by anonymous gifts to fill these additional needs. That means any gift you give will be doubled, and all amounts are appreciated. We are getting close to reaching our goal! Help us meet the match. 

The extra semester this year results in additional expenses such as transportation, supplies, and school fees. A gift of $75 covers the cost of giving 10 students soap, shoe shine kit, lotion, sanitary napkins, and toilet paper for a term; $350 covers the cost of transporting 20 kids back and forth to school for one term; and $1,200 covers the cost of providing breakfast and lunch for 70 primary students for one term.

Friends of Ngong Road students, families, and communities continue to be challenged by extreme poverty, overcrowded living, limited access to quality healthcare and nutrition, and now this global pandemic. 

Thanks to your support, you are helping children spring forward in 2021, making it possible for our students to continue to focus on school and transform their lives.

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Asaph-His Story

Asaph is the eldest of two children in his family. Asaph joined the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation program in 2008. He successfully finished high school and joined St. Paul’s University, where he got a two-year degree in business management.

Karibu Loo hired Asaph as an administrative and marketing assistant for two years. While there,  Asaph was offered a higher salary by Patiala Distillers where he was in charge of inventory control for 16 months. He obviously impressed his employers since he was promoted at the end of that assignment. He became the Sales Supervisor in the Mount Kenya region for a year. Recently he was promoted yet again to be an Assistant Key Account Manager in the Nairobi headquarters of Patiala Distillers.  

Asaph’s mother is still alive. He is her sole source of support and both are so grateful that he is able to do so. Asaph demonstrates the grit, determination, and focus one would expect to see in a young man who has moved so quickly upward in his career. 

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Changes to sponsorship support

Sponsorships are a key component of what makes Friends of Ngong Road unique. Sponsors have a very personal 1:1 relationship with their students and see the impact of their investment in changing a child’s life.

Sponsorship fees cover the cost of school fees, books, uniforms, meals, and school housing (if needed). Additional funds are raised to support student training and support costs. The cost of sponsorship has not changed in 15 years and was initially developed based on three tiers:  $750/year ($62.50/month) for primary school, $1250 ($104.17/month) for secondary school, and $1,000 ($83.33/month) for post-secondary school.

NRCF primary students

Over the years a few things have impacted the program:

  • School fees have increased significantly
  • The cost difference between grade levels has become negligible 
  • Currently, the full cost of a student in our program is:
    • $2402/year for primary
    • $2415/year for secondary
    • $2210/year for post-secondary
  • The management of differing sponsorship fee levels adds time and cost

In 2021 we decided to rationalize sponsorship fees to one level for the entire length of a student’s school career. We will now be asking sponsors to support students at $100/month ($1200/year). You will be notified on your sponsorship anniversary. There will continue to be the need to raise money for additional support for students such as our Life Skills Program, Saturday Program, medical assistance, case managers, etc.

If you are a sponsor, we hope you will consider paying at the new level and making your payments automatic on a monthly or annual basis. This helps keep our administrative costs low.

In addition, if you wish to contribute towards the additional program costs, consider a monthly donation or one-time gift by clicking here.

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Don’t forget to contribute to our Annual Appeal!

Donate

Thank you to the many friends who have already donated to our annual appeal! We are making great progress but still need additional supporters to achieve our goal of raising $150,000 by year-end. 

These funds are critical in supporting costs not covered by student sponsorship, including areas critical to education and development such as the safety and well-being programs, the computer lab, the library, and the Saturday programs.

Your support will be DOUBLED thanks to the $75,000 matching gift from the Ted and Kathy Truscott Family Foundation. You can also consider a gift of stock to fit in with your year-end tax planning.  

It’s not too late! Help us transform lives.

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Year-End Donation Planning

As you plan your year-end gift to Friends of Ngong Road, please keep in mind the many ways you can support us beyond making a cash gift.

  • Donor-Advised Funds. Donor-advised funds allow you to make a charitable contribution, receive a tax deduction and then recommend the grant to Friends of Ngong Road.
  • IRA Rollovers. An IRA Rollover gift can fulfill your required minimum distribution, decrease your taxable income and make a world of difference to our children in Nairobi. Any amount you donate this way counts toward your Required Minimum Distribution and reduces the taxable amount of your IRA distribution. This lowers your taxable income even if you take the standard deduction.
  • Stocks. By donating your appreciated stock, you will save on capital gains tax on the increased value of the stock while also making a charitable gift. The entire stock is transferred at its valued price to Friends of Ngong Road.
  • Planned Giving. After providing for your family and loved ones, you may want to remember the Friends of Ngong Road and the children we serve. A gift from your will, trust, retirement account, or life insurance policy will help to secure the long-term future of our work.

Consult with your tax advisor for the final planning of your year-end gift. If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Development Director, Charlie Levine.