Friends of Ngong Road

We empower Nairobi children living in poverty to transform their lives through education and support, leading to employment.

Archives for June 2022

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Waiting Students

Michael

Michael

One charming thing that you notice about Michael when you meet him for the first time is his warm and big smile. He has the warmest and most innocent smile a boy his age could possibly have. Michael is 10 years old and is the first born in his family with one younger brother. He stays with both his parents. His mother does casual jobs while his father works as a carpenter.

Michael is very intelligent, which can be seen from his academic performance to how he speaks and conducts himself. He scored high during his entrance exams. This is way above good performance, it is excellent. He hopes to pursue mechanical engineering in a higher learning institution after completing his Form 4 (senior year of high school)  studies.  Michael is not just an intelligent boy, he is a fun person to be with. He loves reading books and playing soccer with his friends. He already knows how to balance school and leisure time. 

When Michael is connected with a  sponsor, he will join Ngando Preparatory School and begin his transformational journey. The thought of having a sponsor really excites Michael and he cannot wait to be part of the program.

Esther

Esther is a grade two young girl with a wide smile and an ever-happy face, and that is exactly what you get when you get to interact with her. She lives with her aunt and her cousin. Their standard of living is not so good. Her aunt is a casual worker who does odd jobs like laundry for other people in order to get some money to sustain the family. The little she gets is never enough to cater to their needs.

Despite her being constantly sent out of school due to accumulated fee arrears, she is evidently a bright student. During the selection interview, she scored high marks which are above average performance and this performance set her apart from other interviewees. Esther has a dream of becoming a nurse just like her cousin from whom she draws inspiration from. However, she is pessimistic about it because of the family’s financial situation and her absence from school every time she is sent home.

Esther can only actualize her hope of becoming a nurse when she secures a sponsor. She will go through school, be able to pursue her career, and support her family at the end of it all. 

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We Need More Sponsors!

So many waiting students, and not enough sponsors. 

Sponsors have an incredible impact on our students and are the foundation of our program.  Having a sponsor is a life-supporting opportunity for our students.  We now have over 200 students on the waiting list, each hoping for a sponsor.   

Build our sponsorship community.

Our goal is to double the number of students we support in the next 5 years. This means we need to find new ones to support our students. Our goal is to find 70 new sponsors this year.  Do you know someone who wants to change a child’s life?

We can use your help!

  • Share your experience with others and consider sponsoring an additional student.
  • If you are not a sponsor, become one – Become a sponsor
  • Host a gathering to raise awareness of the positive impact you have by being a part of Friends of Ngong Road and to help us recruit new sponsors  

Reach out to Naomi at naomi@ngongroad.org  to discuss further.

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Entrepreneurship Training

The organization considers students’ lives to be fully transformed after they complete their studies and are able to secure employment, either as employees or if they decide to venture into self-employment. For this reason, the Entrepreneurship Training Program was started. This program is intended to equip the graduates with the much-needed information in regards to becoming an entrepreneur or small business owner and to connect them with potential investors who could possibly fund their business ideas. 

The training is being conducted by Garden of Hope Foundation, a non-government organization that works with youths and women to offer various training programs, entrepreneurship programs being one of them. Ngong Road Children’s Foundation (NRCF) has 11 graduates attending this program. This training is funded by a grant from the Arrow Foundation.

Including both theoretical content and fieldwork, the program participants are expected to go out and gather information when needed. The training takes place three times a week from morning to midday. Breakfast, lunch, and transport are provided to the participants during the training. This is done to ensure that they attend all training sessions.

Each participant developed an initial business pitch so that the program instructors have an idea of the businesses that the trainees have in mind.  Some of the business ideas that were pitched include water refilling, making products from leather, IT-related business, tent hiring for events, content creation, and digital marketing, among others. The program runs through the 22nd of July, During the training, the trainees will be learning the different dynamics of entrepreneurship as well as implementation. After the training program, they will be able to pitch their final business ideas. The best four trainees with top business pitches will get a financial reward from NRCF and the Garden of Hope Foundation.

NRCF is optimistic that the trainees will successfully complete the event. And, that they will have gained the necessary skills and knowledge to become entrepreneurs and/or start their own business. This will be a big step towards them completely transforming their lives and being able to support themselves.

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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.