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 Story: Edna

I am Edna Shadrack Ouma and I live in Nairobi, Kenya and I am amongst the earliest members of the Ngong Road Children Association (NRCA), which has since changed to Ngong Road Children Foundation (NRCF) earlier this year. I was born and brought up in the Lutheran church and met the late pastor Peter Ndungu in one of our Lutheran congregations. Peter Ndungu was my pastor before he left to co-found NRCF with Paula Meyer in 2006.

Having the call to serve the less fortunate, I was touched by his passion and joined the association. I initially assisted Peter in finding resources for five kids until we realized that the demand was overwhelming as the number of children looking for sponsorship kept increasing. We decided, with the help of Paula Meyer, to constitute a Kenyan Board whereby I became one of its members. From there, the organization has grown and now there are hundreds of children being sponsored and supported in their journeys.

I offered to sponsor a child and God blessed me with Rashid Omar. I started sponsoring Rashid Omar in 2012 when he was in second grade and he is now in his freshman year of high school. During the 8 years of my sponsorship, I have seen a transformation in Rashid and I am glad that I took up this initiative. He started out as a very shy little boy and has blossomed into a social and capable young man. I am very much looking forward to seeing what kind of a man he will become and feel grateful to be able to provide support for him.

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Sponsorship Story

My Sponsorship Story

By: Barbara Scharf

I was first introduced to Friends of Ngong Road (FoNR) when Lacey Kraft, Development Director, came to share the FoNR story at a networking meeting in my office at Tamar Fink, a Minneapolis-based financial services firm. I was especially excited when I heard about the mission of providing “education and support for Nairobi children living in poverty whose families are affected by HIV/AIDS so they can transform their lives.” At the end of the meeting, I walked up to Lacey and asked “How can I help?”

After a follow-up conversation with Lacey, I decided sponsorship was right for me. I wanted to support and encourage Kimberley’s education and give her the opportunity to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. I picked Kimberley because I have two adult sons and wanted to sponsor a girl and because she was wearing pink (my favorite color). Kimberley was 12 years old when I became her sponsor. She lives with her mother in the N’gando area of the Dagoretti Slum, where FoNR works. Kimberley’s mom is not permanently employed and depends on informal labor opportunities such as washing other people’s clothes. Her income is not enough to cover daily expenses. They, at times, have to forego some basic needs due to a lack of money. 

Kimberley and her mother stay in a single-room house that is made of iron sheets and timber and does not have running water. The house has electricity which does allow Kimberley to study at night. They use charcoal or a kerosene stove to cook their meals, and Kimberley sleeps on a sofa in the corner of the house. They have a small radio set where they get their news and entertainment.

Since I started sponsoring Kimberley, she has joined Jagiet Academy and wants to be a doctor when she grows up. Kimberley and I email every month and share stories of my family and her school. I enjoy learning about the culture of Kenya as well as Kimberley’s favorite school subjects. Kimberley’s enthusiasm for her school work shows in her school numbers. I feel like I have gained a third child in Nairobi named Kimberley! I am so proud of the work Kimberley is doing and look forward to my next letter from her.

How can you get involved? Do what I did, go to the FoNR website: ngongroad.org/sponsor, and select a child to sponsor. The staff is also willing to help match you to a student if you prefer. Your sponsorship of $100/month pays for a student to attend school with a new uniform, shoes, and school supplies.

Sponsorship has been a joy-filled experience for me. I know it will be for you too. 

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Maydene McDonald’s Estate Gift

Friends of Ngong Road were humbled to receive a generous gift from Maydene McDonald’s estate after her passing at the end of 2019. Maydene learned about the organization through her late sister, Beth, who was a relative of Kurt and Paula Meyer. Paula is Friends of Ngong Road’s Founder and President.

On occasion, Paula and Kurt would host Beth, Beth’s husband, Derwood, and Maydene to their home in Iowa for holidays. Their Iowa home is nicknamed “Tranquility” as it is a very tranquil, welcoming place known for hosting guests. Beth and Maydene were among the regular guests, but little did Paula know that they picked up on the opportunity to transform a child’s life through the stories Paula shared about Friends of Ngong Road.

The gift came as a reminder that we never know when, where, or for whom the mission of Friends of Ngong Road will matter. We must keep telling the story so that people like Beth and Maydene have the opportunity to leave a beautiful legacy as they did. Thank you, Maydene and Beth.

If you are considering a planned gift to Friends of Ngong Road, we’d love to talk to you. There are many planning options and giving areas that can be considered. We would love to hear why you care about Friends of Ngong Road and learn your intentions so that your legacy and wishes are ensured.

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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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Sponsor Spotlight: Rymal Family and Mary Loyland

We’ve heard from several grandparents and parents that they want to teach their children about the world. They want their children to have empathy for people with less than they have and understand how privileged they are. Sponsoring a student is the perfect opportunity as it is grounded in the relationship that can grow between the sponsor and student.

Some of our sponsors have started sponsoring a child with the intention of their own child or grandchild developing a relationship with the student in Kenya. Their child or grandchild learns that some people live in one-roomed homes with five other people. They have to walk to get their water and sometimes can’t afford to go to school.

The Kenyan children learn about life in the U.S. – about winter and summer (a mystery to these children living near the equator with very few seasonal variations) and birthday celebrations. It is a long-term, meaningful learning opportunity. Importantly, it’s rooted in relationships for both children.

Christa and Travis Rymal
Christa and Travis Rymal have known about Friends of Ngong Road since nearly the beginning of the organization. Travis’s mother is a friend of Friends of Ngong Road Founder, Paula Meyer, and was one of the first sponsors.

When Christa and Travis’ daughters, Taylor, Mason, and Chloe, were able to draw pictures they decided to sponsor two students and chose Griffin and Sarah. Their daughters kept the pictures they received from Griffin and Sarah near their beds and prayed for them at night. 

Four years have passed, and the pictures have turned into less frequent letters as all the children are growing up. But the Rymal girls know more about their global community now and have a connection across the world. They’ve learned that their family values include education and giving all children a chance. Griffin and Sarah in Kenya know that they matter, and they are getting an education.

Mary Loylands Grandsons

Mary Loyland
Mary attended an event sponsored by Friends of Ngong Road. She was so impressed by the presentation that she started sponsoring and then corresponding with Vivian, a 14-year-old student.

An educator by profession, Mary recognized that sponsorship would be a great opportunity to teach her three young grandsons from Pittsburgh the importance of learning about young children in other parts of the world and the good feeling you get when helping those who are less fortunate than you. Mary and her grandsons started sponsoring Isaiah in 2017. Isaiah, who is now 13 years old, and the grandsons have exchanged a few letters. They are getting to know each other.

She brought some handicrafts she had purchased at the Friends of Ngong Road event to her grandsons to explain more about Isaiah’s life and family. The boys are growing up and everyone’s schedules are getting busier, but Mary is hopeful they will have an increased sense of empathy and compassion with Isaiah in their lives.

Do you have a special child in your life who could write with a student in Kenya? Take a look at the students who are waiting for sponsorship. If you want more information about any of the students or have any questions, contact Lacey Kraft at lacey@ngongroad.org.