Sinaida is 18 years old, born on 8/25/1998. She has been in the program since 2008 and sponsor recently abjured. While in the program she has benefited through education, nutrition, health and community support. Also, she has gone through a three month basic computer training, career development and reproductive health seminars. She actively participate in the Saturday program where she engages in various activities and also is as a role model to the young ones.
She lives with her mother, sister and brother in Kawangware slum. They live in a one roomed house that has electricity and shares a bed with her mother.
Currently Sinaida is taking a diploma in Front office and customer care Management at Intraglobal Training Institute. This is a two year course and will graduate in 2018.
Juma is focused and performance driven; working hard to achieve her set goals. She aspires to get a good job so she betters the life of her mother and the people around her. Enjoys reading novels, quite talkative and loves playing netball. Grateful for the opportunity that the organization gave to her to study which has helped her to grow and broadened her way of thinking.
Search Results for: saturday program
Letter from Nairobi
Dear Friends,
We here in Nairobi take this opportunity to thank all the Friends of Ngong Road, our donors both known and anonymous, our supporters and partners. You cannot imagine the difference you are making in the children’s lives. Through your generous support, we currently have 114 children in primary school, 146 in secondary school, 94 in various Kenyan universities and colleges, and 37 alumni adding to a total of 391 children. It is our hope that through your support, and the support of your friends and other well-wishers, we will be able to increase the number of children sponsored by 30 or more by the end of 2017 as there are still many more vulnerable children out there who need your support.
Holidays in Kenya
Currently, the primary and secondary (Form One to Form Three/Ninth through Eleventh grade) children are on a long holiday that will end on 3rd January 2017 as schools resume on 4th January. During these long holidays, children are very happy to receive breakfast and lunch which they would not have gotten were it not for your generous contribution to NRCF. Since the holiday period is long, we have modified the Saturday Program so that the children can engage to fully exploit and realize their talents effectively. The Saturday Program is divided into four broad categories that are geared towards the complete development of the children, namely;
- Psychosocial health improvement: Yoga, cheers, singing and fun, brain games, talent contests, team building and spirit, and health check
- Cognitive development: Arts and crafts, book reading, debates and presentations, crosswords, puzzles, and acrostic poems
- Social development: Participating in various clubs and societies e.g. drama and music, scouts, dance club, journalism and arts, St. John ambulance, and STEM (Science, technology, economics, and maths)
- Physical development: Soccer, Katie, taekwondo, rugby, volleyball, handball, and athletics
The children also enjoy a well-balanced lunch that is part of the nutrition program. After lunch the children go for breakout sessions; they are normally divided into two groups (girls and boys) and further by the primary and high school where group mentorship takes place on issues of reproductive health, personal hygiene, and how to overcome peer pressure, among others. The children really enjoy these sessions.
Testing season
Class Eight students have finished the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam and the Form Four students (12th grade) are sitting for their final exams, the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), which they will finish by the end of November. We are expecting good grades from both the Class Eight and Form Four candidates that are currently sitting for their final exams.
August camp
This year from the 9th to the 22nd of August we had three exciting and successful camps held at St. Francis Xavier Girls School in Naivasha (i.e. Grammar Camp, Senior Camp, and Leadership Camp). We also had Little Kids Camp at Destiny Gardens, Rock City, Kiambu (an amusement park that has a swimming pool and beautiful gardens). We had 98% attendance of children in all four camps. Children interacted with each other and with visiting guests including the NRCF board chair and NRCF staff. The children had lots of fun through competitive sports and games, arts and crafts, career development sessions, swimming, a visit to the lake, boat riding, and hiking. They also had an opportunity to eat three balanced meals per day throughout camp. Thanks to the camp founder, Tom Gleason, and all the other sponsors who made this happen. We also appreciate Tulane University for its great support during camp.
Thank you all for making a big difference in the lives of these little ones and we believe that they will go to great heights.
Sincerely,
Maureen Mulievi
Programme Director
Ngong Road Children’s Foundation
March 2017 Trip to Kenya!
A few spots are still available for our March 2017 trip! Meet children in the program who are transforming their lives amidst daily hardships. Meet their parents and caseworkers. Visit a school, a home, the computer lab and library. Participate in Saturday program. And of course, go on a few safaris!
Friends of Ngong Road is partnering with fellow Minneapolis based non-profit Wilderness Inquiry to offer this incredible experience. The trip is 10 days – long enough to have a valuable experience, but doable for many working people or students. Trip cost is $3,995 plus airfare. To learn more contact lacey@ngongroad.org view complete trip details on Wilderness Inquiry’s website.
NRCF Library Reaches Milestone 2,000 Volumes
In early 2009, MN volunteer Rachel Durfee asked family and friends to donate “A Book and A Buck” to establish a lending library for our students in Kenya. A group of travelers hand-carried 200 books to Nairobi and with “200 bucks” bought library supplies such as cards and pockets to insert in each book and plastic crates to store and transport the books to Saturday Program, creating a mobile NRCF library.
In December 2015, with donations from Nairobi and Minnesota, a milestone was reached: the 2,000th book was added to the library.
The NRCF now houses the library in a dedicated space that doubles as a conference room.The room features shelves categorized by early readers, fiction, African literature, and non-fiction, including biographies, references, and revision books. A large table in the room, surrounded by chairs, allows students to explore various subjects like art and zebras.
In addition to books, the library is a modern multi-media resource for our students. It now boasts three kindles (the first of which was donated by Tarpon Springs FL student Gabriella Kennedy for a school project), board games (Scrabble, Mancala, Candyland Bingo, Legos, and Chutes & Ladders are particular favorites), and DVDs (shown at camp and at gatherings during school breaks). In addition, paper and markers are available for students to illustrate and write about themes discovered in a special book they’ve read.
The library is open all day Monday to Friday. Nelson Mandela Academy, a partner school, sends its students to the library daily and NRCF also shares the library with students from other neighboring partner schools like Jagiet Academy. Boarding school students heavily use the library during school breaks and Saturdays, with selected books brought for the Saturday Program.
NRCF distributes early readers’ books to children in grades one to three for personal possession. The students were grateful and excited to receive their very own book – a first and only for most of them.
Why the Library Is Important
Kenyan English-based schooling improves children’s performance on standardized exams by increasing their English language skills. This in turn helps them with their school (and ultimately career) placement. The library offers Swahili books, but they’re not as popular as English, especially among younger readers. However, books about or taking place in Africa are quite popular.
As in the United States, reading allows children to escape to other worlds fueling their imagination and creativity. NRCF students realize global concerns, challenges, and interests through reading, highlighting shared interests and challenges among students worldwide. Through the many non-fiction books, they are able to learn about history, science, nature, geography, and other topics. Reference books aid students in understanding specific subjects and improving their English reading and writing skills.
Librarian Norah Keya
Volunteer caseworker Norah manages the library. She assists students in selecting books, encouraging them to read more by favorite authors or try new ones. They can borrow books for various durations, including weekly, two-week, or monthly readings, browsing shelves, or visiting the library. At any given time, approximately 50 books are checked out.
Norah has partnered with Kelvin Thuku, the head of NRCF’s computer lab, to create an online library management database. Library inventory manages book check-outs and ins, providing Norah with information on book numbers, names, ownership, and time stamps. From this, she is able to tell which books are most popular which guides the search for books in the U.S.
Help to expand the library
NRCF library has used books for up to seven years, featuring popular series like The Magic Tree House, Junie B Jones, Hardy Boys, and Babysitters Club.
If you have books of interest to readers from ages seven to college age, consider donating them to FONR. Non-fiction books guide post-secondary students in career paths and college/university courses, making them valuable resources for career guidance.
FONR supporters held book drives at Creek Valley Elementary School and Lommen Abdo law firm in Edina and Minneapolis, respectively. We would welcome additional book drives – perhaps a youth group, classroom, or workplace project. All books are hand-carried to Kenya therefore, required to be current, good condition, and student interest.
Our Staff in Kenya
Ngong Road Children’s Foundation is fortunate to have a dedicated and talented staff in Nairobi. We employ our Program Managers, Case Managers, IT Assistants, Admin Assistants, Accounts & Procurement Assistants, and part-time “volunteer” caseworkers who receive a small stipend.
Ngong Road Children’s Foundation has a Programme Manager leading the team. The program works through caseworkers who provide support to the children through home and school visits. Each caseworker is assigned 50 to 60 children to manage. We also have an administrative wing comprising an Administrative Assistant, an Accounts & Procurement Coordinator, and an office cook. Finally, we have an IT department comprising of an ICT Coordinator and IT and Computer Lab Assistant who help students access computers and training in basic computer packages well as support the office in IT needs.
Kelvin Thuku, Programmes Manager
On top of offering leadership to the organization, Kelvin enjoys serving the children in various ways through programmes management to ensure a holistic child development. Kelvin is also in charge of staff supervision, Financial management, local fundraising, and relationship management. Kelvin aspires to inspire children by offering mentorship and support since he has gone through a similar journey. He feels that the organization is giving hope to children just as he was given hope by his uncle. Kelvin believes that the biggest gift you can give to your kids is education because knowledge is power. He sees that education has opened employment opportunities to the vulnerable children in the program and delights in being part of the NRCF mission.
Kelvin joined the organization in April 2013 as an ICT Coordinator. In April 2017, he was promoted to Programme Coordinator where he supported the programme Director. In April 2020, the organization eliminated the programmes Director role due to the COVID-19 economic impact and Kelvin was promoted to the new role of Programmes Manager.
Kelvin trained in Information Technology where he specialized in computer hardware repair and maintenance, software development, and database management among other skills. He is also a Technical Trainer having pursued Technical Education at Kenya Technical Trainers College.
Kelvin was raised by a single mother in the Kangemi slum in Nairobi. After high school, he was supported by an uncle for his college education. This taught him the value of education support and he worked hard so as not to let his uncle down. His biggest academic achievement was when he was named the best student at Kenya Technical Trainers College.
Kelvin enjoys serving the children in various ways through programme management to ensure holistic child development. Kelvin is also in charge of staff supervision, Financial management, local fundraising and relationship management. Kelvin aspires to inspire children by offering mentorship and support since he has gone through a similar journey. He feels that the organization is giving hope to children just as he was given hope by his uncle. Kelvin believes that the biggest gift you can give to your kids is education because knowledge is power. He sees that education has opened employment opportunities to the vulnerable children in the program and delights in being part of the NRCF mission.
Margaret Norah Keya, Primary Senior Case Manager
Norah Keya believes that working for NRCF is truly a blessing as she is witnessing many lives change for the better.
Norah Keya is having a remarkable journey with the organization NRCF. Raised in Nakuru County, she developed a strong passion for community development, which led her to pursue that field. Norah joined NRCF in 2011 as an intern and gradually worked her way up to become a caseworker in the secondary department.
Throughout her tenure at NRCF, She has held various roles, including volunteer case managing and librarian. However, her recent position as a case manager in the primary department has allowed her to truly make a difference in the lives of students and their families. She values the opportunity to establish meaningful relationships with them, particularly during challenging times.
Norah’s work involves closely engaging with individuals and families, understanding their needs, and assisting them in finding viable solutions. She finds immense satisfaction in witnessing the positive transformations in the lives of those she helps. Norah considers her association with NRCF a genuine blessing due to the numerous lives she has witnessed changing for the better.
Her experiences and interactions have undoubtedly shaped her perspective on the importance of community development. Through her work at NRCF, she strives to bring about positive change and contribute to the well-being of the people she serves.
Wenceslaus Njiri, Primary Case Manager
Wence has the desire to help others. He got employed immediately after his internship as a Case Manager in Primary Department.
Wence joined the program in late 2009. He was raised in Dagoretti, Ng’ando Slum where he lived with his grandmother, younger sister, and three other relatives.
He has always been active in all of the organization’s programs. While at college, he frequently volunteered to attend Saturday programs to play with the kids and offer mentorship to them. In 2018 when the SRH program was launched he quickly joined as a Youth Peer Provider (YPP) and has been facilitating SRH talks with all our students.
In 2017, he was driven to pursue a career in social work and community development at Kabete National Polytechnic by his passion for helping people in his community. Before graduating, he sought an internship in our organization. His determination and desire to help others were felt and hence got employed immediately after the internship. He currently serves as a Case Manager in the primary department and coordinates the Saturday program.
Mary Wanjiru Muriu, Secondary Senior Case Manager
Mary Wanjiru has been working for the organization since 2009. She has a passion for children and feels NRCF is the best place to be.
Mary was born and raised in Kikuyu in Kiambu County
It has always been her desire to serve the needy. After completing of secondary school, she successfully completed studies in Community Health Care, Computer Training, Counseling Psychology, and Personal Therapy and obtained certificates in each. To have practical testing and application of theoretical issues learned during her training, she interned at Getathuru Rehabilitation School (this is a specialized government school that deals with the rehabilitation of street boys). Mary volunteered at Rafiki Ministry and while there, heard about our organization and successfully applied for the job of a caseworker.
Mary has been working for the organization since 2009. She has a passion for children and feels NRCF is the best place to be. She feels she has gained more knowledge and skills that have promoted her psychological and social growth. During their years of work, she attended a diploma course in Social Work and obtained a certificate.
What she likes best about the program is helping children living in poverty and giving them a sense of belonging to the community and the promise of a bright future as they pursue their goals.
Japheth Mutinda, Secondary Case Manager
Before joining the Organization, Japheth worked with Compassion and ChildFund Children Organization. He feels that he has a calling and a passion for working with children. He believes that education is the key thing to empower the sponsored children with. He is also good at teamwork, advocacy, counseling, and problem-solving skills. He is impressed by the transformation of these children from poverty to becoming empowered individuals in the future. He also enjoys soccer, both playing and coaching.
Tunda Lepore, Post-Secondary Senior Case Manager
Before joining our organization, Tunda Lepore worked with United Africa for Orphans and Widows Foundation in Uganda as a development officer.
Tunda was born into a polygamous Maasai family whose father had three wives, thus she has fourteen brothers and sisters in total. She grew up in a small village in Maasai land called Enaibelibel in the midst of the rich, beautiful, and sometimes biased cultural practices of the Maasai community. Being born female made her very vulnerable. Today she is one of the few girls from the Maasai community who was never circumcised and escaped being married off at a young age. Tunda is a university graduate with a degree in development studies.
In February 2010 she joined our organization as a volunteer caseworker as a way of giving back to the community. A year later she became a full-time case manager. In January 2013, she was promoted to Head of the Primary department. She says she has learned a lot from the kids; they have become part of her life and given her life a different dimension. She believes education is the backbone of success for any individual and for the development of any country.
George Odhiambo, Post-Secondary Case Manager
Social work is something that George Odhiambo has always wanted to do. Having been supported through his education, and acquiring his diploma in Community Development, he’s now a case manager and happy to serve other students.
He feels he was lucky to receive the greatest gift of his life through the generous sponsorship from Bob and Louise Tritt. He is now able to make a difference in the society.
After joining the programme, George did his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) at G.S.U. Primary School and later enrolled at Parklands Boys High School where he did his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). As a young man, there was always the challenge of succumbing to peer pressure while in school. He, however, was able to successfully graduate in 2013.
In 2014, George joined Mount Kenya University for his post-secondary education to pursue a diploma in Community Development. He made this choice as a way of giving back to the community that nurtured him.
George knew he wanted to impact other people’s lives and make a difference in society. Life in the university taught him to make wise decisions keeping in mind the welfare of others. He is glad that he has acquired the necessary skills and knowledge to enter the corporate world, something he always held close to his heart.
He is now working at Ngong Road Children’s Foundation as a caseworker and he is happy in his job. His goal in life is to improve other people’s lives and he believes that NRCF is the best place to achieve just that.
Callen Moraa, Alumni Case Manager
Due to her love and passion for children and youths, Callen Moraa loves her work and believes that NRCF is the best place to exercise her knowledge and skills.
Callen was born and raised in Nyamira County, Western Kenya. She attained her Certificate in Deacon Work from Ogango Deaconess Training College. She started giving back to the community by being an Instructor at Ogango Deaconess Training College. Later she worked as a youth counselor in Nyamira and Mombasa parishes.
Callen also worked as a youth counselor at Compassionate Social Care Organization in Love School Center.
She joined St. Paul’s University and earned a Diploma in Community Development.
Callen joined the organization in August 2017 as an intern and started working as a caseworker in January 2018 in the Secondary Department. Due to her love and passion for children and youths, she believes that NRCF is the best place to exercise her knowledge and skills. It touches her heart to see the lives of young ones transform.
Martha Atieno, Employment Programs Officer
Martha Akinyi Otieno is the Employment Officer at NRCF heading the Alumni Department.
Martha Akinyi Otieno is the Employment Officer at NRCF heading the Alumni Department. She joined the organization in 2022 bringing in more than 10 years of experience in Youth Empowerment and Capacity building. She grew up in a Children’s Home where her father worked and that is where her passion for community work was ignited.
She is a dedicated Youth Empowerment professional who successfully Planning, Coordinating, and Implementing Vulnerable Young participant Employment projects with USAID, NITA, Research Triangle Institute, Kenya Private Sector Alliance, and the Government of Kenya in rural areas, street youth organizations, apprentices, and institutional Alumni connecting them with gainful employment opportunities both in the formal and informal sector and business support.
Currently, she is working with over 170 NRCF Alumni assisting them to get employment with a success rate of 78% and looking to get to over 90% within her first-year tenure.
She really enjoys her work and connecting with the Alumni who she says are very receptive to her programming ideas for better employment opportunities and outcomes.
Victor Wambua, ICT Coordinator
In the organization, Victor heads the ICT department specifically Website management, social media management, and IT support.
Victor Wambua is a beneficiary of the program and one of our first bachelor’s degree graduates. He attributes his success to his late sponsors Chuck and Janet Gleason and also Tom Gleason & Lorna who supported him through his University education. He successfully completed his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computer Science at Kenyatta University.
He joined the organization in 2007 when he was in grade 5. He was raised by his aunt in the slums of Ngando Village, one of the slums in Nairobi. Victor has been a hard-working, self-determined young man who is ready to conquer all odds and achieve his goals.
In the organization, Victor heads the ICT department specifically Website management, social media management, and IT support. He is also in charge of coordinating TechMates program, STEM programs, and the activities of the Elimu Hub facility.
Victor is delighted to work with the organization because he wants to serve as a role model for the students and support the children to achieve their goals by proving mentorship, especially through STEM.
Washingtone Aura, IT and Computer Lab Assistant
Washingtone joined the organization in January 2023 showing great interest in guiding students as they enhance and develop ICT capability and computer literacy.
Washingtone Aura was born and raised in Kakamega County, Western Kenya. He graduated from his primary and secondary education in 2010 and 2014 respectively. Washingtone joined Masinde Muliro University in 2015 to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and graduated in 2019.
While in the university, Washingtone started volunteering to train and teach computer studies to secondary school students in Kakamega county. He tutored and guided candidates towards their final KNEC examinations in Computer Studies and overall at large. Hence he became passionate about teaching and interacting with kids and developed a powerful interinards teaching and training.
In 2019 Washingtone joined Mudasa Academy as a junior ICT teacher. He was in charge of IT resources and training kin ids IT skills. He became a Computer studies teacher and Technical support at the institution. Aura helped and guided candidate classes of 2019, 2020, and 2021 to create their database projects during their final year in secondary education. He helped the candidates to 100 % transition from secondary education to tertiary education. Washingtone then joined the International School to teach the (IGCSE) ICT Cambridge curriculum in 2021.
He joined KCA University as an intern in the distance learning department for 4 months in 2022. During the internship period, he was tasked to provide technical assistance to end users of the Learning Management System (Moodle), dedicated to his work, and demonstrated a high level of enthusiasm, professionalism, loyalty, and competence.
Washingtone Aura joined the NRCF organization in January 2023 as an IT And Computer Lab assistant. He showed great interest and passion in teaching and guiding students. He helps students enhance and develop their ICT capability and computer literacy skills.
Maureen Wambui, Accounts & Procurement Coordinator
Maureen Wambui is a beneficiary of the organization. She graduated with a diploma in business Management. She’s the accounts coordinator.
Maureen was born and raised in the slums of Ngando Village, one of the slums in Nairobi. She is a beneficiary of the program and attributes her success to her sponsors (Gene and Ruby Hermier) who supported her throughout her education. She is the last born in a family of three, having been brought up by a single mother.
She is a graduate of Nairobi University with a Diploma in Business Management and has worked with the program since 2016 as an Accounts/Procurement Assistant.
She enjoys working with kids. and has become a role model as a former student in the program. The hard-working spirit of her sponsor is what inspires her most. She believes that her success is as a result of patience, hard work, and discipline.
Lucy Iguri, Administrative Assistant/Librarian
Lucy is the Administrative Assistant and Librarian. She loves serving parents and visitors. She also loves guiding the students in the library.
Lucy was born and raised in Muranga County in a family of six.
She has a Diploma in Community Health from the Kenya Institute of Professional Studies. She started working at our program as an intern in 2014 and got permanent employment as a receptionist and recently as an administrative assistant and librarian.
As the face of the organization, she ensures there is an element of trust during the communication with both the parents and students. In the reception area, she ensures they are attended to and puts a smile on their faces, therefore creating a good environment for them to share their stories. She has been able to see life from a different perspective by listening to their various life stories.
Working in the organization has provided her an opportunity to see the diverse life situations of the children. She has seen them transform their lives through education with the help of program sponsorship. She is proud to be part of the NRCF team.
Lillian Nyabuto, Assistant Admin/Librarian
I’m Lillian, and I’m a proud beneficiary of the program. My journey at NRCF has been truly life-changing. I am currently employed as an Assistant Administrative/Librarian. My responsibilities are varied and enjoyable. I handle a variety of tasks, including errands, library assistance, inventory management, and procurement assistance.
My favorite part of my job is interacting with students in the library because I like cultivating a reading culture among our students and thus helping to change lives.
I get a lot of satisfaction from contributing to the smooth operation of our office and library.
Volunteer Case Workers
NRCF also enjoys the support of “Volunteer Case Workers” who receive a small stipend for their time and travel costs.
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- …
- 17
- Next Page »