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Hi Friends,

I’m writing just a little more than one month into helping steward Friends of Ngong Road into its next chapter. Someone asked me today if it feels like I’ve been drinking from a fire hose — which in some ways, is true. But what I’ve found one month in is: although there’s been much I’ve been getting my arms around, what stands out is how this community has put its arms around me.

The top of mind example is our team in Kenya. I had a chance to spend a week with them in August both to get into the weeds on what we’re up to programmatically and to literally run through the weeds (mainly grass!) as part of Saturday program. Of all of the things I could rave about when it comes to our partners in Kenya, here’s what you need to know: their professionalism and diligence is only outdone by the genuine care and commitment they have to each other and our program. I am so grateful to call them partners and colleagues.

Back here in the States, it’s been wonderful and simply just a great time getting to know so many of our supporters. In these first thirty days I’ve met with nearly fifty of our supporters — from Santa Barbara to Chicago to the Twin Cities.

If we haven’t had a chance to meet, let’s find a time! You all are the wind in our sails; the reason we’re able to realize our mission. I’m so grateful for the nearly twenty years of support so many of you have provided, and look forward to meeting many more of you.

Looking ahead, here’s what you should expect from us:

• As we approach our twentieth anniversary, we’re laying the foundation for the next twenty years. We’ll be reaching out to hear your perspective on how we can continue this work together.
  
• We’re also entering our most critical fundraising season. Nearly two decades of transformation have been made possible by your generosity — and continued support will ensure we thrive in the years ahead. If you’ve given at year’s end before, expect to hear from me.
  
• Finally, while the world feels uncertain, our commitment does not. Board and staff alike remain steadfast: change in a child’s life happens one day at a time, and you can count on us to be there daily for our students as we grow.

My answer was: we all carry so many titles in how we show up in the world. We all have so many ways we’d like to be seen. But at Friends of Ngong Road, it’s powerful to remember how much positive change can come from just one simple title: Friend.

In friendship,

Dan Fernelius
President, Friends of Ngong Road

Traveling to Kenya for the first time is an experience that is hard to capture in words. As Paula often says, “we have to get you to Kenya,” and now I fully understand why. The week was remarkable in every way—equal parts energizing, humbling, and inspiring. I return to the U.S. with deep gratitude for what our community of Friends of Ngong Road has built and for the extraordinary team at the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation (NRCF), whose professionalism, energy, and commitment to our mission left me so confident in our future.

One of the highlights was attending Saturday Program, where nearly 150 kids gathered for “crazy games.” I joined a relay race involving balloons and, despite being the self-proclaimed “slow American,” my team pulled off the win. These moments of laughter and connection reminded me that our mission is not only about education and opportunity but also about joy, resilience, and community.

In every classroom I visited, every story I heard, and every handshake I received, I saw the tangible impact of your support. This video captures just a fraction of that journey, but I hope it conveys the same sense of awe, gratitude, and possibility that I carried home.