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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An Incredible Trip

My first trip to Nairobi was an exceptional experience in community and capacity building. For two weeks, I delved into staff tasks, engaged with students, and met board members to comprehend their roles.

My biggest takeaway is the sense of community that welcomes the students and their families when they join the NRCF (Ngong Road Children’s Foundation) community. They are embraced with joy and high expectations.

The new Elimu Hub student center is busy! Lucy Iguri (in blue) and Victor Wambua have made creative and professional contributions to the library collection, including tagging the books per a system emulated from another library, and developing a Google Form for book tracking and checkout. Lucy developed guidelines to address how to curate and manage the collection.

Students eagerly surround books on Lucy’s desk, urging her to catalog for a prompt reading adventure as pictured. Excitement fills the air!

Between one-to-one meetings, Saturday programs, lunches, and weekend activities, I was able to get to know the individual NRCF and KLL (Karibu Loo) staff members and have the privilege of hearing their stories. The most impressionable stories were those with the staff who are also program alumni. 

Here are two NRCF alumni entrepreneurs: Patrick and Leonard! 

Delivering loos with John and Martin, both NRCF beneficiaries.

Meeting former board member Edna with Callen and family. Visiting Kelvin’s son Taj.

At Saturday Program, the intertwined network includes Case Managers, students, and allies like the Saturday Program cook and nurse, revealing deep interdependence. The children radiate delight at having games, activities, and books that they would not otherwise be able to access. The students in the red shirts are the choir.

Shanice is a newly sponsored student. She took a book home from Saturday program. When she came with her mother to pick up her uniform, Alice said she read it to her sister all evening. Here she is coming back for more! Future librarian?!

I became solidly convinced of why I felt compelled to join this organization through my immersion in the NRCF community.

We ensure college access for economically disadvantaged kids, granting them equal opportunities and changing their belief in educational attainment. Their beaming faces project a sense of security in a circle of supportive peers, mentors, and caregivers among whom they grow up.

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Notes From Paula

Dear friends,

I had the pleasure of visiting Nairobi from June 23 – 30 for the first time since February 2020.  This was my 26th trip to Kenya and I left with three major impressions related to our work through Ngong Road Children’s Foundation (NRCF).

  1. Leadership is everything.  I believe that organizations grow and thrive when they are well-led. We have been working toward developing effective leadership in Kenya that is both a reflection of Kenyan culture yet also responsive to American leadership norms. Kelvin Thuku (Programme Manager for NRCF) and his leadership team are doing an excellent job of leading the organization and it shows.  Our staff is long-tenured and mature.  It is clear that they have built a culture where team members bring their best ideas to work and feel comfortable tackling challenging problems.

I observed the team discuss issues in our post-secondary program; they were clear on the problems to be solved and very vocal about solutions.  I visited the Saturday Program and saw a well-organized, orderly program for 150 elementary-age students. We had many programs running concurrently while I was in Kenya – computer training for recent high school graduates, parent meetings for post-secondary students, Life Skills training, etc. – and it all worked smoothly.

  1. Get educated and get a job.  We have done well in helping students get educated, yet we know we have room for improvement in supporting alumni on their employment journey.  We conducted our 2nd Alumni Survey in late June and learned that 51% of graduates had a job at the time of the survey, 80% had one or more jobs in the past 12 months and 72% of alumni are supporting other family members.  These results are modestly improved from 2021. While I was there, our new Employment Services Manager (Martha Otieno) began her job.  She brings strong skills and background in workforce development and good understanding of the employment market in Nairobi.  I expect she will have a positive impact on employment among our alumni. 
  1. Even if a student’s path leaves the main road, they find a way.  I spent time with many alumni while in Nairobi, including at least 10 whose education journey was less than we hoped for.  In every case, I found young adults who have grown, are more mature, and are piecing a life together.  Some are back in the slums, but they have one or more businesses or are employed. If there are children, they are in school.  Some are working in the gig economy and earning a living by doing several things like contract workers in our economy. Some are looking for a better job or getting more education or trying to move out of contract employment to more permanent jobs.  Most of them are building on the education they earned; they are determined and succeeding. 

Sometimes the road taken is not straight.  We have 183 alumni from this program whose lives are better than they would have been without education.  In most cases, alumni are building a life and by the time they get into their 20s, they understand the incredible gift they have been given.  Thank you to each and every one of you who have helped these students in their journey.

Warmly,

Paula

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Elimu Hub Utilization Activities

The NRCF Elimu hub houses a computer laboratory and library to provide learning activities and resources for its beneficiaries. The utilization of the hub is as follows:

1. Computer lab

Primary Students

  • Weekly Computer Classes

There are many benefits of introducing computers to children at an early age. One of the main benefits is that it prepares them for future computer usage since many professional fields require these skills. This also increases their self-esteem, and self-confidence and boosts their problem-solving skills.

  • Creative classes on Saturday i.e. Canvas & Coding

As part of the Saturday program, we are introducing creative computer classes that will teach students how to use creative tools like Canvas to create decorative posts for sponsors, as well as impart basic coding skills.

Non-Nelson Mandela students will also take computer classes on top of the creative classes to be on the same level as the Nelson Mandela students.

  • Internet – Web surfing and NRCF communication portal

The students are taught how to use the internet to do school research within their level and access and log in to their NRCF communication portals to write/reply to sponsor messages and access their photos and other resources in the portal.

Secondary students

  • WordPress Training

The secondary students must attend mandatory computer classes during their holiday where they will be introduced to the WordPress course. At the end of the training, they are required to build their portfolios. 

The training also acts as a preparation for the three months training with Belmont College.

  • Internet – Web surfing, NRCF Communication portal, and Google mail

The students are taught how to use the internet to do school research. Use of Gmail tools such as Email, Google docs, sheet, and saving documents in G-Drive. They also learn how to access and log in to their NRCF communication portals for writing/replying to sponsor messages and accessing photos and other resources in the portal.

Post-secondary students

  • High school graduates computer training

The two-month training program by Belmont International College will be conducted in our computer lab, which is now equipped with new and fast desktops.

  • Research space for students

The computer lab is accessible to all the beneficiaries of the foundation to access and conduct their research or do assignments. Students use the computers in the lab to access the student communication portals to send and receive emails to and from their sponsors.

2. Library

  • School textbooks & revision materials.

The NRCF library with the help of the CBCT project leader is in the process of identifying school textbooks for primary, secondary, and post-secondary levels in relation to the new curriculum. Students are accessing these books either to read them within the library or borrow them for a specific period.

  • Storybooks/novels

Currently, the library has various genres that students borrow and read within our premises. This activity continues in the new library with a plan of adding more.

The current library management system is also under improvement for a more effective book tracking experience. 

The librarian, with the help of primary and secondary case managers, ensures that each student borrows a book at least once every school term and provides a report at the end of the year to indicate how many books each student has read.
Each student also fills out a questionnaire upon returning the borrowed book to ensure that they read it. This exercise also encourages the student to read their storybooks to be able to fill out the report.

  • KICD materials access

Five Endless OS computers are being installed in the library space for students to continue accessing the KICD materials

  • CBC Utilization activities – Art and Design

 Art and design stimulate creativity and imagination as it provides visual and sensory experiences and a special way of understanding and responding to issues. Through learning about the roles and functions of art, students can explore the impact it has had on contemporary life. 

By introducing art and design;

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  • The students will access materials unavailable at home and also limited at school. They will be able to showcase their artwork to sponsors eg in drawing, cardmaking, flower making using different materials, etc
  • Students will be able to record from first-hand experience and imagination to select their ideas to use in their work. 
  •  They will be able to develop creativity and imagination through a range of complex activities
  •   This will increase their critical awareness and boost their confidence and have fun.
  • Reading and study space

Most of our students’ homes are not conducive to studying. During holidays and weekends, students utilize the library space for reading, studying, and completing assignments.

 It will also be a space where students come and get assistance with their homework and assignments from the TechMates interns that will be at their disposal.

Students will also have read-aloud and around sessions, where they will be able to share lessons, terms, and group book reading.

Book club sessions for grades 5 and 6 students will resume.

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Join us in Africa!

Friends of Ngong Road is planning a trip, especially for our sponsors, donors, friends, and families to Kenya(Africa) in February/March 2023. Have you ever thought about traveling to Kenya to meet your student? Do you want to experience a life-changing trip with your family? Is it a dream of yours to join and be part of a photo safari? Your dream can become a reality. 

The Africa trip will be hosted by an experienced FoNR traveler, a sponsor, and a local Nairobi guide. The itinerary will include time with students, a visit to their homes, a school tour, and time at the Saturday Program.  You will also see our new student center, Elimu Hub.   It’s a wonderful opportunity to see some Kenya national parks, African wildlife, and the uniqueness that Nairobi has to offer. 

Contact Naomi at naomi@ngongroad.org if you are interested in learning more.  We will follow up with more details on the itinerary, timing, and costs. There will be an online information session to provide more details about the experience, answer any questions you may have, and join fellow travelers.

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What Students Will Be Doing This August!

August usually means that our students are out of school for the month, but because of COVID-19, the education calendar changed and required our students to be in school to make up for the lost class time. Instead of a month, they only have a one-week break. Unfortunately, there will be no August Camp for our students this year since they will be in school during the weeks that are normally on holiday. Nonetheless, we have various activities in store for them that will not only keep them busy but which are fun and enjoyable.

The Saturday Program will continue weekly and include all students during the one-week holiday break for older students. We strive to engage with our students and provide an opportunity to bring them together. This is an important part of our overall program as it enables us to interact with our students and learn more about their school and general life progress. We spend every Saturday with primary students and provide a wide range of fun activities and importantly, lunch. Activities are planned to enhance their cognitive skills and provide a way for them to interact with each other. Our roster includes racing, various clubs and societies, taekwondo, gymnastics, book reading, and much more. During the holiday week this year, we will have special activities for older students.

Time to write to sponsors. As a special activity, we will have all students visit the new computer lab in the Elimu Hub to send emails to their sponsors. All students come to the office, log in to their portals and write letters to their sponsors. The letters are an opportunity to update sponsors on their progress, especially in school, and tell them more about what is happening in their lives. We encourage them to include any changes that might have taken place since the last time they wrote.  Remember, for many students, these are the first personal letters they write, and it takes a while to get the hang of it! Letter writing is very important as it is the best way students keep in touch with their sponsors.

Concentrated computer classes will be held. We will be having computer classes for the primary students.  They will come for classes on selected weekdays and on Saturdays before the Saturday Program starts. Classes ensure that students are computer literate as this is fast becoming a necessary skill in learning. Our computer/IT lab assistant will take them through the classes in the computer lab in our newly constructed Elimu Hub.

Life Skills Training and Sexual Reproductive Health sessions are scheduled during the one-week break for older students. The Life Skills classes will enable them to gain the relevant social skills that are needed for interpersonal relations. The SRH classes are meant to educate them on major topics around sexual and reproductive health for them to make informed decisions on the same. 

We are optimistic that our students will enjoy and learn from all the activities scheduled for this summer.