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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The Book Club


Igniting a Love for Reading and Cultivating Young Minds!

Join us at Ngongroad Children’s Foundation’s Saturday Program as we embark on an exciting journey of discovery through books and imagination. Our newly launched Elimu Hub is a haven for young book lovers, featuring a computer lab, a dynamic library filled with captivating stories, and a creative space for art and design.

The Book Club aims to enhance a reading culture and inspire a new generation of passionate readers. Every Saturday, our sponsored children come together to enjoy a day filled with fun, engagement, and education. By utilizing interactive techniques like reading aloud and reading around, we encourage active participation and foster a love for literature.

Through African literature that resonates with their backgrounds, we promote cultural awareness and celebrate diverse voices. We focus on nurturing creativity, improving English skills, and cultivating a lifelong passion for reading. 

Transform a life today by donating or sponsoring a student.

Students at the Elimu Hub

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The Inspiring Story of Hillary

My name is Hillary. I have distinct recollections of my time residing with my parents and siblings. During my childhood, my mother’s schedule was quite occupied with tending to my younger siblings. As a result, one day when she was away from home, I took the opportunity to venture around the neighborhood.

I encountered a group of friends playing at a school compound, and I decided to join them. Later, I learned that Ngong Road Children’s Foundation was holding their Saturday program at that time in this location.

I persisted in returning until I was fortunate enough to secure an interview. I passed the interview and joined the program. Since then, I have achieved a lot academically and in other areas. I’ve earned awards for academics and led camps between 2017 and 2019, showcasing both scholastic excellence and leadership skills.

I did well in my Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), and I joined a provincial-level boys’ high school. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I completed high school a year later than I was supposed to.

I joined Moi University to pursue a course in Social Work. Driven by sincere passion, I’ve chosen this course to optimize conditions for others’ success, reflecting my genuine commitment.

Before joining Moi University, I was trained as a Youth Peer Provider (YPP) by the program, and I have since been facilitating Sexual Reproductive Health talks amongst my peers and younger students in the program. As the chairperson of the YPP group, I find fulfillment in actively promoting awareness, particularly among teenagers.

Currently on an internship at Ngong Road Children’s Foundation under the Secondary Department. I feel fulfilled because I am not only putting into practice what I am learning in school, but I am also giving back to the NRCF community. I aspire to complete my degree and hopefully take a master’s, as I also want to become a lecturer.

The NRCF program has had a profoundly positive impact on my life by providing me with quality education, for which I am truly grateful.

Transform a life.    

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Mid-term Break

The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the Kenyan education calendar for over a year. Normalcy in the school calendar has been restored since the beginning of this year. According to the revised school dates, mid-term break for all students began on March 16th and will end on March 19th, giving students a three-day break.

Ngong road children’s foundation

This means that both our primary and secondary students will be at home. We have a number of activities for the students to keep them engaged. First, both primary and secondary students will be writing letters to their sponsors. Students will visit the newly constructed Elimu Hub, where they will have access to a computer and can log in to their portals to update their sponsors on their school and family progress.

Second, we have our regular Saturday program schedule. We will have a variety of activities planned for them, including yoga and light exercises, rock paper scissors relays, brain teasers, puzzle and crossword puzzles, and trivia debates, and have lunch together among other things. The Saturday program will also allow the staff to interact with the students one on one. The Elimu Hub will also allow students to complete their assignments in the library. They can obtain educational reference materials as well as a quiet location to work on personal projects.

Ngong road children’s foundation

When the mid-term break ends, we will provide basic necessities as well as transportation funds to the primary and secondary boarding students. We hope that the students will make the most of their three-day midterm break.

Support our fill a trunk campaign for our high school and some primary students that are in boarding school. 

Sponsorship FAQ

  • Can I send unique gifts or additional funds to my student and their family?
  • Can I phone my child or friend them on Facebook?
    • No. We ask you not to communicate with your child outside of the Sponsor/Student portal, including through social media while they are active in the program. This policy is in place to protect both students and sponsors.
    • When a student becomes a young adult and moves from student to alumni status, the decision will be yours as to whether and how you will stay in touch with your sponsored child.  
       
  • Can I share information about my student on my social media accounts (Facebook)?
    • Yes, share your experience with your student and Friends of Ngong Road on social media. However, we ask that you do not share your child’s personal information such as their last name, where they live, or other personal information such as health status. This is to protect your student’s privacy and safety.

  • What can I do in the Sponsor-Student portal?
    • The Sponsor/Student portal is your crucial source of information and communication. You will find letters, messages, essays, and photos from your student. Case managers provide assessments and school marks in the portal.  

  • Can I visit my student?
  • How do I communicate with my student?
    • Use the Sponsor-Student portal to communicate with your student. You can send messages and pictures or create a video message. Our students love to hear from their sponsors.

  • What if I haven’t heard from my student in a long time?
    • Don’t worry, you will be hearing from them soon. Students send messages to their sponsor at least three times a year. Students in boarding school do not have access to technology or our offices throughout the school year, but will send you a note while they are home during their holiday breaks. 

  • How else can I help support my student and/or the program and how can I get involved?
    • You can help the program and your students with donations. Sponsorships cover the cost of education, totaling about 40% of our annual budget. Additional funds are needed to cover supportive programming costs: health & wellness programs, the computer lab & library, Saturday program, camp, and case management, among many others. Donations can be made as a one-time or a recurring monthly donation. Go to https://ngongroad.org/donate/ 
  • Should I be sensitive to the economic gap between my family and my students when corresponding with them?  
    • Yes. Our students come from extreme poverty but generally loving, supportive households. They are eager to hear about their sponsor’s lives, their family, and their culture. They love to see pictures of family members, understand the work-life of sponsors, learn about your holiday traditions, and especially see photos of snow (which doesn’t happen in Kenya).

  • How many months do students attend school?
    • In Kenya, the academic year is the full calendar year, and children typically go to school for three terms: January-April; May-August; September-December. There are 2 – 3 week breaks between the first two terms and a more extended break for most of December.

  • What if my sponsored student leaves the program?
    • Children may end up leaving the program for a variety of reasons. If something happens to your sponsored student, we will communicate with you about what happened and work with you to match you with another child.

Financial FAQ

  • Is sponsorship tax deductible?
    • Yes, your sponsorship is a donation and is tax deductible, same as all other donations you choose to make. Friends of Ngong Road is a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code.
  • Will I receive a bill or reminder?
    • Most sponsorships are set up on an automatic plan (monthly or annually). If you prefer to pay annually through a Donor Advised Fund, Required Minimum Distribution, check, or another method please contact staff@ngongroad.org and we will set up an annual reminder through email.  
  • Could I get a team of people to do a fundraiser and know where the funds are going? For example, new equipment, or books for the library?
    • Yes! If you would like to help raise money for Friends of Ngong Road, contact staff@ngongroad.org to help get you started.
  • How does Friends of Ngong Road use my personal and financial information?
    • Friends of Ngong Road maintains the confidentiality of our donors. We do not share or sell information about our donors. We do not publish your name without your consent. We sometimes feature sponsor stories in our newsletter with your consent.
  • How are funds distributed – who spends the money?
    • All our financial information is publicly available. Please feel free to review our annual 990, Annual Report, and audited financial statements – all available here. 
  • Do funds go to the student’s families?
    • No. We pay for education and programs but do not provide funds directly to the student or family. We do, however, provide emergency food aid, emergency medical care, and holiday care packages for families.
  • How much money goes to the cause vs. fixed expenses, and how does this compare to the average non-profit?
    • You can view our financial statements, audited financials, and annual reports here, and you can view our profiles on sites like Guidestar and Charity Navigator to see how we compare to others. 
  • Are there other ways to help besides sponsorship?
    Absolutely!
    • If 10-12 years of sponsorship isn’t the right fit for your life, but you want a monthly donation to go directly to students’ education, you can still make a smaller monthly donation or one-time gift to our Scholarship Fund which allows you to have a direct impact on students by paying for the education fees of those who don’t have sponsors. 
      Sponsorship contributions cover almost 40% of our annual operating costs. Additional funds are needed to help cover student support costs:

You can donate to support these programs through our general fund at https://ngongroad.org/donate/