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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Letter from Nairobi

Summer Camp was a big success. A big thank you to all who supported it.
The 2018 Summer Camp was a big success because everything was implemented as planned thanks to the camp leaders, campers, Post-Secondary student volunteers, NRCF staff, U.S. volunteers, NRCF board, FoNR board, our sponsors, donors, and well-wishers who made it possible. Camp attendance was very high for all the groups. Little kids camp, grammar, and senior camp at 100%, 92%, and 91% respectively. For post-secondary camp, the attendance was lower at 55% since many students were doing their end-of-semester exams in the first week of August. We had no major emergencies, except one of the boys dislocated his wrist during one of the games.

Children got a chance to enjoy a balanced diet thanks to Tile and Carpet (our corporate partner) who donated most of the dry food. The traveling logistics were a success despite the long distance to the camp which was tiresome. All the activities were good and the children enjoyed them very much. There was a great show of team spirit and collaboration during camp activities ranging from fun sports activities, problem-solving games, Crazy games, and “Olympics” sports games. The evening activities, like dance contests, offered the children a platform to explore and nurture their talents. The climax of camp for most students was a field trip to William Holden Animal Foundation and Ngare Ndare Forest Trust which offered our students great exposure to natural resources and conservation practices.

Progress of the Sexual Reproductive Health Program
The NRCF Sexual Reproductive Health Program (SRH) using a Youth Peer Provider model was launched in December 2017. The objective of the program is to provide accurate and comprehensive information and training regarding sexual and reproductive health and rights for adolescents and young adults to remain free from unintended pregnancy, and prevention of STIs including access to contraceptives.

The SRH Program is run and facilitated by NRCF Youth Peer Providers (YPPs), who are students recruited to receive training and information. A total of 15 YPPs were trained by Planned Parenthood Global. After the training, we selected 10 trainees out of the 15 whom we felt were most capable and ready to disseminate the information to their peers at NRCF.

The 10 YPPs are effectively offering reproductive health training, guidance, and counseling to their peers. They also refer them to Riruta Health Centre, a local government clinic we are partnering with located in Dagoretti Constituency for further counseling and contraceptives.  Riruta Health Center offers free youth-friendly services such as counseling, contraceptives, and STI testing and treatment. It is an important resource for young adults as we do not offer contraception directly to students apart from condoms and emergency contraceptives.

The SRH Program Coordinator is Joy Obiya, our post-secondary caseworker. Joy provides oversight of the program and meets periodically with the YPPs to provide support and address any emerging challenges.

Since the inception of the SRH Program, that is, from December 2017 to August 2018, a total number of 335 students have been trained. The sessions were conducted during school holidays at the Nelson Mandela School, NRCF offices, and during the August summer camp in Nanyuki

The program is having a great impact on the trainees by improving their knowledge in SRH, helping them in developing self-confidence and self-esteem, and creating a safe space for them in matters pertaining to reproductive health. This has positively changed attitudes, clarified myths & misconceptions, strengthened informed decision-making, and provided them with access to condoms and other contraceptives.

We want to appreciate all our sponsors, donors, and well-wishers who contributed towards the success of this program. Special gratitude goes to Prof. Sally Kenney, Prof. Patricia Kissinger, Kelsey Williams, and other Tulane University students who worked tirelessly and continue to support us to ensure the success of the program.

Karibu Loo Update
Karibu Loo Limited is performing fairly well. We are happy to report that the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK) business is back with training sessions taking place in the northern part of Kenya specifically in Nanyuki, Laikipia, and Samburu.

With the new truck that we purchased in May thanks to the generosity of a few individual donors, operations at KLL have been smooth. The donations also helped purchase a new exhauster and more cabins.

At KLL, we continue to focus on KLL’s objectives as follows: Generate a stream of income that will provide 25% of NRCF’s annual operating budget, provide employment for graduates of the program and other Kenyans and improve sanitation in Kenya. We are on track to achieve our first objective and efforts are geared toward making the business more profitable. We continue to provide employment to our graduates and by now over 50 NRCF graduates have had a chance to work in the company, with 30 being regular associates and four permanent employees. The newest permanent KLL employees from NRCF graduates are Norman Ruguaru working as an Administration and Marketing Assistant and Simon Odhiambo working as an Operations Associate. The two are both aged 22 years and graduated from the Form Four class (senior) of 2015. Simon did not pursue post-secondary education thus the training he is receiving at KLL is very valuable to him. Norman enrolled for a certificate course in Nature Interpretation and Tour Administration at the Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute and is scheduled to graduate in April 2019.

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Camp 2018

Camp 2018 was a success! Over 90% of the NRCF students attended grammar and senior camps. Together with the students, volunteers, and NRCF staff, every day was a fun, new adventure. Children were able to mingle with old friends and make new friends. They enjoyed nutritional meals and new experiences during field trips. The field trips to William Holden Animal Foundation and Ngare Ndare Forest Trust offered students great exposure to natural resources and the opportunity to learn about conservation. Students were also able to engage in fun sports activities, problem-solving games, crazy games, and the Olympics. There was a great show of team spirit and collaboration during camp!

The camp theme this year was “I am in charge!” One student wrote,“The doctor told her I had already done as much as what they were to do and that really encouraged my dream of becoming a surgeon when I grow up. Since that day I appointed myself in charge of any injuries in the house and treat them very well because the doctors’ saying really enabled me to know how good one feels after helping a patient become normal again.”

Because of you, NRCF students know that they are in charge of their future and their dreams. Thank you for taking charge to make a positive change in the lives of our students.

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Student Essays: “I Believe I Can!”

In Gavin’s essay titled “I Believe I Can,” Gavin describes going to a secondary boarding school and being judged by his peers for coming from the slums. With self-awareness and courage, he reached out to his school counselor for help. He writes, “I now view myself as someone born to succeed from a gloomy past…I can be anyone in society I believe I can.” At camp each year, students write essays about their lives connected to the camp theme. Students often share intimate, powerful parts of their lives. Gavin, John, Edmond, Tina, Tito, and Joyce invite you to read their full essays.

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Emmanuel: I Believe I Can!

Emmanuel was nine years old when his parents passed. The end of his parents’ lives meant the end of his education as well. Emmanuel and his siblings moved in with his aunt, who was unable to afford school fees. Emmanuel watched his older siblings come to terms with the reality of their future and lost hope in his own future without an education as well.

In late 2008, his aunt learned of the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation program. She applied for Emmanuel to be accepted, and he joined the program in early 2009 and was sponsored by the Halloran family. Emmanuel remembered the weeks of sitting at home and wishing to go to school before he was accepted to the program, and he pledged to himself that he would make the most of the opportunity. Last year Emmanuel was ranked first in his class of 48 high school juniors! He wrote this essay at Ngong Road Children’s Foundation’s August Camp last year about his memories before being in the program and how he now proudly shouts that, “He believes he can!” 

Emmanuel Titi's Essay I Believe I Can

See Emmanuel’s full I Believe I Can Essay.

He has different goals and perspectives than most young people his age and he makes the most out of every opportunity. He understands that there is more to life than what meets the eye and wants a different future for himself. Keep up the good work, Emmanuel!

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Letter from Nairobi

August Camp Bells are Ringing

As you are probably aware, the students of the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation (NRCF) live mainly in the slums, where they live difficult lives and have limited exposure to good physical and social amenities. Because of this, the annual August Camp is truly the highlight of the year for our students. With gratitude for sponsors, donors, and dedicated volunteers, our thriving camps have flourished for a decade, improving annually.

August Camp has many educational, well-being, and social objectives, all set in a fun, learning environment. Camp strives to:

  • Provide unique, fun educational experiences.
  • Improve health and well-being.
  • Create a close-knit, supportive community, where students develop a strong sense of belonging and where they are exposed to and taught about good personal values.  
  • Develop leaders and teach leadership skills.
  • Provide a new view of the world to all who attend camp, both students and international volunteers alike.
  • Give students who live day-to-day lives in poverty and in difficult circumstances, the opportunity to just have fun and be kids in a safe environment.

The outcome is transformative, impacting students and volunteers from Kenya and abroad, altering lives through a profound experience. Our NRCF students are anxiously waiting for this year’s August Camp, which is scheduled for August 6th to 22nd. We’re crafting a dynamic program with indoor and outdoor activities to stimulate students both physically and mentally.

Run in an environment that encourages openness, the camp will include guest speakers who put emphasis on discipline. Hard work as cornerstones for success, as good classes to help students develop key personal and life skills to prepare them for their future careers. Help them grow up as responsible citizens.

I know our students are lucky to have both local and international sponsors and supporters who are touched by their plight and who generously sponsor their formal education. Camp goes beyond this and provides a means to develop the all-around person. As you can imagine, holding an off-site 17-day camp for our 377 students is costly. Against this background, in June we will be kindly inviting our enthusiastic supporters to make donations to ensure that every student gets the opportunity to attend this year’s camp.  

I sincerely thank all stakeholders for dedicating time and funds, vital to the success of our previous camps. Grateful! Be on the lookout to “Send a Kid to Camp” this June!

Maureen Mulievi
Program Director
Ngong Road Children’s Foundation