July 2026 Impact Update — Friends of Ngong Road

A Note From Kelvin

Growing Confidence

Every year for more than a decade now, I've had the privilege of watching the students in our program grow into confident, capable young people — and every year I am reminded that their walk along the path towards realizing their potential is something they don't walk alone.

Not only do they have the amazing community of supporters — people like you — they have their case manager, our wider team here in Nairobi, and their peers walking alongside them. Thank you for being a friend.

Now halfway through our academic year, we wanted to put this report together to share a bit more about where we are today and where we're heading.

This year has been a season of remarkable growth. We welcomed the largest group of new students in our history — children who had been waiting for the chance to learn, grow, and imagine a different future; many for quite some time. Watching them take their first steps alongside students who have been with us for years has been one of the great joys of this work.

And by extension, their families are also indirect beneficiaries of this work. Having a student in stable, high-quality education day-in, day-out means parents have one less challenge to tackle — empowering them to have an easier time balancing earning a living and providing for their family.

With five months left in this academic year, I am so excited to see where we'll take the program this year with you walking by our side.

Thank you for being a Friend,
Kelvin

Kelvin Thuku

Program Director

This Year At A Glance

A snapshot of where we are as of July

We're halfway through 2026, and there is so much underway. Here's a snapshot of everything happening right now.

Considering our Identity

Since January we have been considering our identity: our name, how we describe our work and why it matters, and how we can best position ourselves to grow into our next twenty years.

Considering our Model

We're in the midst of a comprehensive 360° review of our entire program. This review builds on evaluation work completed earlier this year to establish a baseline analysis of our program. We also developed a theory of change — a foundation for understanding how each program maps back to our outcomes, or not.

Considering how to grow

Earlier this year we launched our largest cohort ever — 100 new students. We're considering how to continue that growth in 2027, and what it will take to do so optimally for the long term.

Over To You

What questions do you have?

We would love to hear the questions you have. What do you think about our name and identity, and how we show up? What do you think about our model? What are you curious to learn more about?

Reach out to Dan at dan@ngongroad.org with your questions.

We would love to hear from you.

Program Update

One hundred futures

Since joining the program in January and April this year, 100 students in Grades 2–5 have settled into partner schools across Nairobi, learning under Kenya's Competency-Based Curriculum — which grows practical skills, creativity, and confidence right alongside core subjects like math, English, and Swahili.

Ready to learn

Uniforms, shoes, learning materials, and a daily nutritious meal mean every child is able to focus and take part in their full education at our partner schools.

Cared for as a whole child

Health screenings and attentive case managers look after each student's wellbeing, not just their grades.

Thriving beyond class

Sports, performing and creative arts, gardening, and scouting build teamwork, confidence, and the simple joy of being a kid.

Impact At A Glance

Your generosity by the numbers

A snapshot of the community your friendship sustains — the students in class, the alumni building careers, and the families supported through hard seasons.

Beyond the programmatic work, momentum is growing among our Friends in the United States, carrying us toward an ambitious year ahead.

395

Active Students

100

New Students This Year

292

Active Alumni

300

Families Served With Food Aid

12,000

Meals Served

607

School Assessments

300+

New Students On The Waitlist

Alumni Employment

Employed at more than double the rate of their peers

70% of alumni report being employed — compared with just 30% of their peers age 18–35.

Friends of Ngong Road alumni

70%

Their peers

30%

We Want Your Voice

Help shape our next twenty years

As we consider our identity — our name, how we describe our work, and how we show up — we want to hear from the people who know us best. We've put together a short survey, and your perspective would mean a great deal. It takes only a few minutes, and it will directly inform the road ahead.