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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Annual Report 2015

We are proud to have published the 2015 Annual Report for Friends of Ngong Road. It was an exciting year with highlights including the successful pilot launch of our portable toilet business, Karibu Loo, and our biggest high school graduating class of thirty-nine students.

Karibu Loo was created to generate sustainable income for Friends of Ngong Road and to provide employment opportunities to graduates. Karibu Loo provided 26 students with full-time or part-time employment in 2015, not only providing valuable job experience but also an opportunity to gain or supplement incomes as many of these students entered post-secondary studies. We have supported Karibu Loo’s launch and expansion by both generous contributions from supporters and by utilizing funds from our endowment.  Our board of directors believes that investing in a business that will support the sustainability of our mission is a good use of endowment resources.

George

Each year more of our students are entering post-secondary programs and securing jobs. One recent graduate, George Odhiambo (pictured right), has started working as a full-time intern at Ngong Road Children’s Foundation. He will become a caseworker after receiving his diploma in July.

Bob and Louise Tritt of Kansas City sponsor George. He was a camp team leader for three years and recently volunteered in our NRCF offices. He cleaned the offices each morning and helped caseworkers enter information about NRCF students. George also worked for Karibu Loo, both as an event attendant and with construction projects.

George appreciates the numerous opportunities he has received through the program. He eagerly looks forward to advancing his skills further at NRCF.

Employment at middle-class wages allows students like George to reach the goal of transforming their lives. Discover transformative student stories in the attached annual report and on our new website: www.ngongroad.org. Witness lives changed through education.

This Annual Report is for the U.S.-based entity, Friends of Ngong Road. Our U.S. audit firm has audited and approved these financials. As you know, Ngong Road Children’s Foundation, a separate organization, is undergoing a forensic audit, which will be concluding very soon.  We will update you on those audit results by the end of June.

Our focus on education along with the programs that enhance students’ safety and well-being and provide a supportive community are working to make a real impact on impoverished kids in Kenya. Many of our students are now working in good jobs, which is the ultimate measure that our programs are working. Thank you for being part of this mission and for your continued support.

2015 Annual Report (pdf)

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Gather your friends for handicraft fun!

Do you and your friends, church group, or club enjoy getting together for a good cause? Would you be willing to help share the important message and vision of Friends of Ngong Road so even more children can transform their lives? We invite you to host an event or handicrafts bazaar for FoNR! Please contact lacey@ngongroad.org if interested.

 

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Welcome to Karibu Loo, Wickliff

We are excited to announce that Wickliff Ayuku Mutanda has been hired as the Commercial Director of Karibu Loo as Michael Switzer, Volunteer General Manager since Karibu Loo’s inception, is preparing to return to the U.S. this summer. Wickliff is a Kenyan aged 51 years and is a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport International.

He holds MBA in Strategic Management, Bachelors of Commerce, degree in Business Administration, Project Management, and Purchasing & Supplies Management diplomas.

He has a strong marketing research and strategic planning background developing routes and systems for Stagecoach International Services, the then-owner of Kenya’s leading public passenger road transport company- Kenya Bus Services. Wickliff also brings relevant experience in the area of freight logistics including, product sourcing, warehousing, transport, distribution, shipping, import, export, and port operations, having worked for SDV – Transami the then-key logistical organization for the United Nations and other NGO’s operating in the Great Lakes Region of Eastern Africa.

Wickliff worked at senior management for 11 years, focusing on quality assurance, business performance, service improvement, and customer care for East Africa’s top travel companies Abercrombie & Kent, Private Safaris, and Pullmans Tours & Safaris before venturing into energy and university administration at Daystar University in Nairobi.

“Karibu” (welcome in Swahili) to Karibu Loo and the NRCF family, Wickliff.  And karibu home, Michael! Thank you for your dedicated service to the children of NRCF.

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New Karibu Loo Storage Facility

Karibu Loo has grown! We now have over 80 loos, and recent grads of our program helped prepare our new storage facility.

Robert, John, Shammah, Martin, Wycliff, David, Duncan, and Leonard worked hard, and some made $12 on the project – enough to pay for half a month’s rent. They received a hearty lunch every day they worked and actively contributed to advancing the mission of educating children.

Thanks, guys!