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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Freelance and Tax Compliance Training

On the 8th of June, a highly valuable training session on freelance and tax compliance was organized for the TechMates currently under the TechMates program and other beneficiaries involved in the freelancing world. This training aimed to equip the participants, who are predominantly freelancers for Ngong Road and other external clients like Lidonation, Upwork, and other freelancing platforms. They were provided with the necessary knowledge and skills to enhance their work portfolio and ensure tax compliance.

Lydia Ontiri, a tax expert from Be The Leader, conducted the session, covering essential topics for successful freelancing in the modern market.

The training aimed to aid TechMates, freelancers in client management, boosting portfolios by enhancing client attraction and work strategies. Lydia shared insights, strategies, and best practices to effectively market their skills. This included tips on networking, online platforms, and showcasing their previous work. By focusing on these aspects, the TechMates gained valuable knowledge on how to differentiate themselves in a competitive freelance landscape. 

In order to understand the importance of clear and well-defined contracts in freelance work, the training included contract creation. They were provided with valuable guidance on how to draft contracts that protect both parties’ interests and establish expectations regarding project deliverables, timelines, payment terms, and intellectual property rights.

To ensure they practice their civic duty, the training also included comprehensive guidance on tax compliance and filing returns. Lydia walked the TechMates through the process of filing returns through the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) portal, providing a step-by-step demonstration.

The training demystified tax filing, equipping participants to navigate their tax obligations confidently and understand the process effectively.

This training played a crucial role in empowering the TechMates to comfortably navigate through the freelance world.

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Saturday Program Update

The Saturday program, a child development initiative, has been making a significant impact on the lives of our students by providing a platform for engaging and fun learning experiences. Through a range of activities facilitated by dedicated staff, students have been able to explore their interests, enhance their skills, and build lasting friendships among themselves. In the past months since the beginning of the year, we have also been privileged to have visitors, sponsors, and donors join us during the Saturday program.

One notable visit to the Saturday program was by Amy, the Chief Operating Officer of Friends of Ngong Road. During her visit to Nairobi, Kenya she visited the program and joined the students in various activities. Her presence brought a sense of excitement and encouragement to the students as she conveyed warm greetings from sponsors. Amy’s personal interaction with students fostered connection, reminding them of their sponsors’ love and support, fostering a sense of connection.

Robin, a sponsor and brother of Andy, visited the program and interacted with sponsored students, friends, and participated in fun activities. Andy, a board member and Chief Technical Officer at Friends of Ngong Road, also met with the students.

Another significant contribution to the Saturday program came in the form of donations from the Waterfront Mall in Karen, Nairobi. They donated books, clothes, and shoes for the students. Book donations increased library collection, while clothes and shoes were given to students . These donations will not only provide valuable educational resources but also help improve the students’ well-being. 

The Saturday Program fosters hope, transformation, and belonging among students, fostering growth and community, inspiring them to support each other.

Donate towards the Saturday program.

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Sexual Reproductive Health Training Update

Education requires nutrition, good health, and a safe living environment for effective learning.  To maximize student success, we support the health and well-being of our students by providing regular meals and medical care and support and training programs for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Drug Awareness and Abuse, and Mental Health. 

High school students received Sexual Reproductive Health training at NRCF offices during school break. The training started on the 25th to the 28th of April at the NRCF offices. This training aimed to equip the students with the essential knowledge to make informed decisions regarding their sexual and reproductive well-being and it was being facilitated by Youth Peer Providers (YPP) who have undergone training by Parenthood Global. 

Some of the topics covered include:

  • Mental health: Understanding the impact of mental well-being on overall and where and when to seek support when needed
  •  Drug and substance abuse: Recognizing the risks associated with substance abuse and developing skills to resist peer pressure
  • Teenage pregnancy: Exploring the consequences of early pregnancy and fostering awareness about responsible sexual behavior
  • Abortion: Emphasizes informed decisions about abortion, discussing legal aspects, health risks, and support systems for students.
  • STIs: Educating on prevention methods, testing, treatment, and reducing stigma
  • Menstrual hygiene: Educating people about menstruation, eradicating its stigma, and offering helpful advice on how to manage menstrual hygiene.
  • Contraceptives: Introducing various contraceptive methods, their effectiveness, and ensuring the students understand their rights and choices regarding contraception
  • Consent: Discussing the significance of consent in relationships, emphasizing mutual respect, and promoting healthy communication

The SRH training was beneficial, addressing relevant topics and providing a safe space for discussions. Interactions with Youth Peer Providers provided relatable role models who understood students’ perspectives and concerns. This peer-to-peer approach promoted an open and non-judgemental environment, encouraging the students to actively participate.

Through this initiative, we continue to contribute to the holistic development and well-being of the students and we are more motivated to support such initiatives.  

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Alumni Small Business Training

In recognition of the growing importance of small businesses in the Kenyan economy, we took the initiative to provide a comprehensive training program for our alumni who either have existing small businesses or are planning to venture into the business industry.

The training program intends to empower alumni with essential skills and knowledge for navigating business challenges effectively and achieving success.

It conducted over two months, has covered a range of topics essential for small business owners to thrive in a competitive market.

The training was being conducted by Be The Leader (BTL) led by Lydia Ontiri at the Lutheran Church along Ngong Road. The training provided a comprehensive understanding of various aspects of small business management. Some of the topics covered included:

  • Generation of business idea

The participants learned effective techniques to generate innovative business ideas and identify gaps in the market. They gained insights into market research, customer analysis, and the importance of value propositions in developing a business concept.

  • Writing and presenting business plans for a grant request

Acquiring skills in crafting business plans to secure grants and funding involves learning to present business goals, strategies, and the impact of the business.

  • Financial management

Understanding the financial aspects of their business and learning risk management to safely safeguard their ventures

  • Marketing and pitching

They also gained insights into marketing segmentation, branding of their businesses, and customer acquisition techniques. Additionally, they have sharpened their pitching skills to effectively communicate their business ideas

An exhibition took place on the 19th of March at the NRCF offices. The exhibition provided an opportunity for the trainees to showcase their products.

Two Strathmore University judges assessed displays, accompanied by 2 student exhibitors showcasing their business products at the event.

The training has successfully equipped 10 alumni with skills in business management and we would like to express our gratitude to Be The Leader for providing training and guidance to these alumni. 

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2023 Post-Secondary Career Camp

We had to put our summer camp on hold since the start of COVID-19 in 2020. After things calmed down in 2022, we redesigned the camp to ensure that students have fun while also gaining educational value. Instead of having a general camp for the high school and post-secondary students, we introduced a career camp meant to educate students, especially new KCSE graduates preparing to join colleges and universities on career training and college and university applications. 

The camp took place at Naivasha West Beach Camp which is on the shores of Lake Naivasha from Friday, the 21st of April to Sunday, the 23rd. The camp theme was “WePower PS Career Camp” which translates to “We are Empowering the Post-Secondary students through this camp”. The students were able to demonstrate this through the discussions that they had with their paired buddies, who were selected Post-Secondary students in the different career fields that our high school graduates aspire to pursue, and external facilitators who we invited. This was to ensure that the high school graduates of 2022 can be able to fully understand the careers available, the placement process, and post-secondary life and move together as a team.

We had a total of 53 campers that included 26 high school graduates, and 15 buddies. We had a number of career development programs in store for the high school graduates which was the main purpose of the camp. Nelson, a guest speaker, from Generation Kenya facilitated a career discussion about selecting career choices based on interest and enthusiasm, as well as the effect that it makes. A representative from Zetech University also guided the graduates through courses, institutional selection, and placement. They were educated on how the Kenya University and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) handles placements. This is in regard to cluster points and subject combinations. 

We also had buddy group discussions that were facilitated by the selected buddies. The buddies were able to clearly explain how things work in higher learning institutions in specific relation to the courses they were taking. This enabled the graduates to have a better understanding of the various courses they had selected as their most preferred courses. The campers also enjoyed all sorts of activities ranging from summer Olympics, obstacle races, balloon relay, music and dance, swimming and team building activities. These activities were meant to be both fun and forge a teamwork spirit.   

The camp was successful and we would like to extend our gratitude to all donors and sponsors for the education support they accord our students. We would also love to thank the teams from Generation Kenya and Zetech University for honoring our invitation and sharing knowledge with the campers.