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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Sponsor Spotlight – Margo and Matt Mukomela

Margo and Matt Mukomela have sponsored Sam for the past year. They decided to become sponsors after attending and volunteering at the Annual Gathering in the Twin Cities for several years. Margo works at Ameriprise, a company that offers a match for employees giving to Friends of Ngong Road and has a high number of generous supporters of the program. Margo was inspired by the generosity of her colleagues and the stories she heard at the Annual Gathering. She and Matt decided to make a difference for a child in Kenya too.

Margo and Matt are now expecting their first child and they’ll have the opportunity to teach their child about Sam and his life in Kenya. They’re excited to meet their little one and for the educational opportunities he or she will receive in this country. And, they’re glad to extend the opportunity to Sam across the world.

It’s no secret that many young professionals deal with enormous student debt and limited discretionary income as they are starting out their careers and building their families. One young donor said, “It’s all about my choices. If I choose to not donate a portion of my income every month, it often slips away to something else that does not align with my values. I’d rather spend it on something that really matters.”

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor you can learn more by going to https://ngongroad.org/sponsor or emailing Lacey at lacey@ngongroad.org.

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Letter from Nairobi – July 2019

Our 2019 Letter updates are here.

Camp is a chance for the program children to get out of their normal settings and to spend time away from the slums in a healthy, stimulating environment focused on learning and fun. This year’s camp will run from August 5th to the 17th with a total of 350 campers.

Camp Dates:

5th -7th August – Grammar camp (2 nights)

8th – Rest day

9th- 11th August – leadership camp (2 nights)

11th- 17th August – senior camp (6 nights) 

The camping season is approaching quickly. Children are particularly excited and anxious due to the change of venue from previous years. The team settled on Enoomatasiani Girls High School due to its accessibility, beautiful scenery, security, and moderate facilities offered by the school. The camp planning team has ensured that everything is in place and the key players have put their respective houses in order. Once the booking of the venue took place, the stage was set for the rest of the planning. Potential camp leaders have made applications for supplies and are eagerly waiting for the material day. In addition to having fun, the camp will also boost the children’s cognitive, psychomotor and affective skills. Indeed it is a very important exercise in the children’s growth and development. I wish to wholeheartedly thank the NCRA sponsors, supporters, and well-wishers for their input which will enable this important experience to take place. I wish to thank everyone who will donate their money, time, and ideas to ensure summer camp 2019 is successful.

Sincerely,

Maureen Mulievi

Programme Director, NRCF

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Thank You for the 2018 Annual Appeal

Thanks to our generous donors we met the 2018 Truscott Family Match of $65,000 and more! Thank you to everyone who donated generously to provide important programming for students to transform their lives through education in Kenya. The Friends of Ngong Road Annual Appeal funds elements of our program that sponsorship does not. This includes nutrition support, healthcare, Saturday Program, caseworker support, the library, the computer lab, and more.

The 2018 annual appeal success of just under $160,000 raised could cover the cost of 6,400 meals for families who are particularly needy, 200 new computers for the computer lab, or the gap for 320 students who attend boarding school but their sponsors are only able to provide tuition support.

A very special thank you to Ted and Kathy Truscott for making this important appeal possible. From the children, their families, and Friends of Ngong Road, “Asante Sana.” Thank you very much.

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The New Ambassador Program

Do you remember how you learned about Friends of Ngong Road? Chances are, you knew someone who was involved as a donor, sponsor, or volunteer. They told you about the difference the organization was making for children in Kenya for a relatively small investment. You signed up for our newsletter, came to an event, gave a donation, sponsored a student, or started following us on social media because you believe in the mission and trust your friend or family member. Friends and family networks are the most common path for people getting involved at Friends of Ngong Road.

We are now formalizing that friends and family method with the introduction of our new Ambassador Program as a strategy for growth. Ambassadors are people who know and love Friends of Ngong Road, agree to learn more about it through ongoing learning opportunities and commit to recruiting two sponsors and raising $2,000 each year for two years. They can be of any age, background, and experience with the organization. Ambassadors are passionate about their mission, aims to change a child’s life for a small daily investment of around $2.. They believe the opportunity to change a child’s life is too important to not be spread.

A shout-out to the first four Ambassadors who started volunteering with the organization last month. They are high-energy, dedicated leaders paving the way for this program and creating more opportunities for students to join the program and transform their own lives. We thank you!

If you are interested in becoming an Ambassador, please contact Lacey Kraft at lacey@ngongroad.org or 612-568-4211.

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Notes from Paula

As we begin 2019, I believe that Friends of Ngong Road and our sister organization in Nairobi are turning a corner in three ways:  

  1. The program is delivering results in young lives transformed by education and employment;
  2. Ngong Road Children’s Foundation in Nairobi is a dramatically more mature, effective organization than it has ever been; and
  3. Friends of Ngong Road are poised to move to the next level.

We began working with the first group of children in Nairobi’s Dagoretti slums in late 2006 – twelve years ago.  That first group of sixty children is now young adults. Among the early classes of students who have successfully navigated the entire program, including Primary, Secondary, and Post-Secondary schooling. 93% today have jobs or are in internships we believe will lead to employment.  In the 2012 NRCF Plan, we dramatically strengthened our criteria for admission to the program.

We expect as these later classes of students complete their education, more and more will be eligible for government scholarships in post-secondary colleges and universities. And, we have built programs designed to bolster success through Sexual & Reproductive Health training and Life Skills training.  We are optimistic that the formula we have created will continue to work. Explore the jobs our graduates have secured through the information provided on the poster below.

In 2016, the Kenyan Executive Director’s embezzlement roiled the organization in Nairobi. We have successfully remade our Kenyan operations by outsourcing financial management to a professional firm, recruiting a very competent Kenyan board of directors to provide local oversight, and strengthening Friends of Ngong Road’s role in financial oversight and control.  Our leaders in Kenya, including the board and the new Program Director, are creating a professional, well-run Kenyan organization.

Finally, Friends of Ngong Road completed a strategic plan that includes the replacement of my volunteer-President role with that of a new, paid Executive Director and the transition of our joint organizations to one that can support even more children in the future.  More than 550 children have been affected by this program, and while a few have moved away or gotten derailed, many have become young adults with bright futures.

We have much work to do in order to continue delivering on our mission. Above all, I am most deeply appreciative of you – our sponsors, donors and supporters who have made this work possible.

In gratitude,

Paula Meyer
Founder and President