Update Archives - Page 11 of 31 - Friends of Ngong Road

August 18, 2023 By Nickson Odhiambo Leave a Comment

A Day of Learning, Growth, and Inspiration

Last Saturday was a special day at Ngong Road Children’s Foundation. We welcomed back our high school students who were on holiday, and the presence of our alumni made the day even more special. Mr. Paul Dalizu, one of our board members, also joined us and shared his wisdom with us.

Energetic students joyfully singing our program anthem — Ngong road children’s foundation

The day started with our program anthem, which made us feel refreshed and united. Mr. Paul Dalizu took center stage, captivating everyone with his session on the essence of values, using money as a prime example. His words were profound: much like money’s worth remains undiminished despite any blemishes, our inherent values define us beyond any external imperfections.

Artist proudly displaying her creation. — Ngong road children’s foundation

As midday approached, the students gathered for a nourishing lunch, reenergizing both body and spirit for the pinnacle of the day’s events. Our young primary students were prepared to relive the excitement of our recent All Clubs Day. The day aimed to provide students with distinctive educational experiences while fostering camaraderie among different club members.

The Taekwondo Club instilled physical strength, discipline, and self-defense skills in its members, while the Financial Literacy Club imparted valuable lessons on money management and budgeting. The Book Club encouraged a love for reading and improved reading comprehension, and the Art Club allowed students to express themselves through watercolor painting, nurturing their creativity.

Dance club members showcasing dynamic moves. — Ngong road children’s foundation

The day wasn’t over for our high school students, as they engaged with Mr. Paul in enlightening sessions about planning, basic skills, focus, and sexual reproductive health from our volunteer sexual reproductive health trainers. The day ended with snacks and a feeling of satisfaction.

Your contributions empower us to orchestrate such impactful events, transforming the lives of these budding minds. You can continue to be a part of our journey in various ways, ensuring our ability to touch even more lives by volunteering, donating or sponsoring a child.

August 17, 2023 By Nickson Odhiambo Leave a Comment

Creating Pathways to Success with The Apprenticeship Program

The Ngong Road Children’s Foundation (NRCF) Apprenticeship Program is a hands-on training program that pairs alumni with skilled tradespeople in their field of interest. The program’s goal is to provide our alumni with the skills and confidence they need to excel in their chosen careers.

Alumni from the Ngong Road Children's Foundation learning welding skills

The program was launched in May 2023 with an initial cohort of more than 10 alumni from various fields such as mechanical engineering, hairdressing, fashion and design, welding, and beauty.

The program takes a unique approach to apprenticeship. Experienced professionals coach alums as they take on real-world projects and learn through their implementation, rather than simply shadowing a tradesperson. This allows them to develop their skills and confidence in a practical setting.

Thanks to Ngong Road Children’s foundation, Participants in the NRCF Apprenticeship Program have access to resources for the industry in addition to receiving practical training and mentoring. This covers the hardware, software, and other resources that participants can use to further develop their abilities.

alumni from the Ngong Road Children's Foundation learning hairdressing skills

One of our trainees shared their experience: “Since joining the apprenticeship program by the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation, I’ve witnessed remarkable growth. In just one month, I’ve progressed from needing supervision to confidently working independently. This program has not only equipped me with the skills but also the belief that I can excel in my profession.”

The program has been a success in achieving its goals. Ninety percent of the participants have successfully completed their apprenticeships. The program is also projected to expand significantly in the coming months.

The NRCF Apprenticeship Program has had a positive impact on participants. They have gained practical skills, boosted their self-confidence, and evolved into self-sufficient professionals. The program has also aligned with the foundation’s broader mission of expanding employment opportunities for alumni.The apprenticeship program stands as a testament to the power of education, mentorship, and dedication. We invite you to be a part of our vision as we continue to shape the futures of aspiring professionals through skill-building and empowerment.

June 22, 2023 By Victor Wambua Leave a Comment

Camp is back!

Students in Orange — students at grammar camp

We are delighted to announce the return of camp! After a pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have resumed our camps, and they are better than ever. NRCF Camp is designed to provide educational value and a fun-filled experience, as well as an opportunity for our students to spend much-needed time outside of the slums. Camp empowers students by equipping them with essential skills for their futures.

We have restructured camp based on school levels to enhance its effectiveness and will take place throughout the year instead of in August. The camps include:

Grammar Camp
Junior Camp
Senior Camp
Post-Secondary Career Camp
Alumni Camp

For the younger students, our Grammar Camp will be a one-day event. This camp will include a visit to a national park or conservancy, providing an exciting opportunity for exploration and adventure.

Junior Camp aims to inspire curiosity and provide students with tools and support to realize their potential. Offering a blend of fun activities, promoting innovation and creativity, life skills development, and projects aligned with the Competency-Based Curriculum newly taught in Kenyan schools.

Senior Camp supports the smooth transition to secondary school. They will engage in team-building activities and workshops focused on personal development and goal setting. They will prepare older students to act as buddies to the younger students. Camps cultivate confidence and resilience in students, equipping them with vital soft skills for navigating high school successfully.

The Post-Secondary Career Camp took place from April 21st to 23rd with the theme “WePower PS Career Camp,”. This camp focused on empowering students as they explored various career options and gained insights into the placement process and post-secondary life. The camp included discussions between high school graduates paired with “buddies”, post-secondary students in a variety of careers. External facilitators shared valuable insights about career choices and course selection.

Alumni Camp and the Post-Secondary Career Camp took place earlier this year. The Alumni Camp, held from January 20th to 22nd celebrated the achievements of the 2022 post-secondary graduates and welcomed them into the Alumni Department. The camp featured job preparedness training, employability skills development, and emotional intelligence workshops. Participants received valuable training from “Be The Leader” (an organization in Kenya providing this specialized training). They covered topics such as job interview skills, entrepreneurship, and career development. These sessions empowered the alumni and enhanced their competitiveness in the job market.

We are thrilled to bring back our camps. We eagerly anticipate the students’ acquisition of new knowledge and the joy they will experience through these activities.

June 22, 2023 By Victor Wambua Leave a Comment

DirectEd Coding Bootcamp

On April 12, 2023, Ngong Road Children’s Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the DirectEd Development Foundation. This relationship will help pave the way for our students to enter the programming era, which has become an indispensable skill in our digitally-driven world.

The DirectEd Development Foundation, a UK-based charitable organization, is dedicated to providing evidence-based, scalable, and cost-effective coding bootcamps and scholarships to under-resourced, high-potential students in Africa. We are thrilled to be part of this valuable partnership.

Through this collaboration, 25 of our 2022 high school graduates participated in a three-part program specifically tailored for students like them facilitated by tutors from DirectEd. The first phase of the program was a one-week coding course that took place from April 24th to April 29th. The twenty-five students registered for this virtual training course were provided with access links to the online Google Classroom and learning resources for the bootcamp.

To complete their online studies, students had access to desktop computers in the computer lab in Elimu Hub, where they downloaded and studied Python (a popular coding language) modules, submitted assignments and exercises, and utilized the Zoom application for virtual meetings and coding practice. Students participated in other workshop sessions focused on effective learning and time management.

On April 29th, 21 students sat for the bootcamp’s final exam. Based on the examination results, 14 students advanced to the second phase of the program (the main program) which is an intensive 12-week computer-based program.

The main program began on May 15th. In preparation, students were given the opportunity to apply for the DirectEd Access Scholarship. The scholarship provides them with a laptop, a tutorial voucher, and a stipend to attend the program. Six out of the 14 students were awarded Access Scholarships. The other eight students will receive laptops from the Friends of Ngong Road Laptop Lending Program,

We express our deepest gratitude to the DirectEd Development Foundation for helping empower our students through technology.