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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Thank you from our team in Kenya

As we head into this week of Thanksgiving in the United States, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be part of this community—spread across continents, connected by a shared belief in the potential of young people in Nairobi.

The video below captures something I saw so clearly when I visited Nairobi: the extraordinary dedication of our team and the real impact your support makes in the lives of students. Our team in Kenya is the heart of our work. They lead our mission and turn your investment into impact every day.

From all of us at Friends of Ngong Road, and especially from our team in Nairobi: thank you for being part of this mission, for believing in our students, and for fueling the realization of potential, both for our students and our work overall.

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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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NRCF Celebrates DirectEd Program Graduates

The Ngong Road Children’s Foundation (NRCF) aims to challenge, empower, and prepare its students for a successful future. This commitment was recently demonstrated when five of our post-secondary students Raymond, June, Boaz, Edmond, and Evelyne completed the DirectEd Development Foundation Bootcamp Program.

After months of intensive training, they proudly joined 34 other graduates from Kenya and Ethiopia who completed the third edition of the program. These young innovators gained practical skills in three important and in-demand areas:

  • Full-Stack Web Development Fundamentals
  • Generative AI Engineering Fundamentals
  • User Interface and Experience Design Fundamentals

The graduation ceremony, hosted by Blockchain Centre NBO, was a celebration of growth and creativity. Our beneficiaries didn’t just complete lessons; they built real projects, collaborated across teams, solved problems, and pushed beyond their comfort zones.

They leave this program not only with certificates but with the skills and confidence to create, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to the fast-growing tech ecosystem in Africa.

Among the proud graduates, Raymond stood out as one of the 12 top-performing students selected to join the DirectEd Talent Program. This achievement means he will now access paid internship opportunities with DirectEd and its partner companies.

​​We celebrate our graduates for their determination and success and will continue doing what we do best, which is to transform lives through education and opportunity.

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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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The Student Success Journey of Kimberly

Kimberly is a young girl with big dreams and a generous heart. Her student success journey is one of determination and hope, made possible through the support of our program.

She comes from a background where financial challenges made access to quality education difficult. However, with the help of our program, Kimberly received the support she needed not just financially, but also emotionally and academically. This support helped her find a new path and a chance to shine.

student success

Kimberly successfully completed her primary education and made a smooth transition into high school. This was a major milestone for both her and her family. Today, she proudly stands in her final year of high school, one step closer to achieving her dream of becoming a mechanical engineer.

Driven by a strong personal goal to “be better and achieve the impossible,” Kimberly continues to rise above every challenge. She studies hard, stays focused, and believes in the power of education to transform her life. Her teachers often describe her as dedicated and always willing to push beyond her limits.

In addition to her academic success, Kimberly is also passionate about sports. She recently stood out at her school by winning the athletics competition. Her victory in sports reflects the same determination and resilience she brings to her studies. Whatever she does, she gives it her best.

Every step Kimberly takes is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when opportunity, support, and belief come together. Behind her success is the unwavering support of our program and the belief that every student deserves a chance at success.