Victor Wambua, Author at Friends of Ngong Road

July 18, 2022 By Victor Wambua Leave a Comment

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;

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.

March 24, 2022 By Victor Wambua 1 Comment

Two Remarkable Young People:

Siblings Lorine and Emmanuel

By Susan Plimpton

Almost 15 years ago, we accepted the sponsorship of Lorine, at that time a young girl of about 10 years of age. When I met her, she had a big smile on her face but found me a bit intimidating and looked down at the ground when I shook her hand. Her father had died recently and her mother, also positive, was weakened by an illness. Lorine was helping with cooking and washing while also going to school. Even then her mother knew that a good education was the only possible way to give Lorine a chance at a better life and thus applied for sponsorship in the Ngong Road program. Over the years, Lorine gradually became more self-confident. We loved communication through email and had fun times shopping when I was in Nairobi. Several years after “adopting” Lorine I learned that her young brother, Emmanuel, was also available for sponsorship and we agreed to take him on as well. Emmanuel was a little more reserved but very motivated academically in primary school which enabled him to enter a competitive secondary school.

Both Lorine and Emmanuel were accepted by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology for a two-year certificate program after they completed secondary school, Lorine in Business Studies and Emmanuel in Business Information Technology. Upon completing the program, Lorine self-financed herself for a 4 year Bachelor’s degree in Business Studies and now works in a financial position at the British East African Tobacco Company in Nairobi.

Emmanuel is an IT intern at the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation, one of the first “TechMates”. He is so proficient in information technology and cyber security that he has a second internship at Lido Nation as an Intern/Junior Developer. Emmanuel has also been invited by the Swiss non-profit organization, United People Global, to participate in a week-long leadership and sustainability program this summer at Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership in Rockland, Maine. He is hoping to obtain his U.S. visa to attend.

My husband David and I visited Lorine and Emmanuel pre-pandemic and were so impressed and proud of the young adults they have become. Both have matured into self-confident and poised individuals who have every intention of contributing to the development of their countries. They indeed are examples of the transformation that can be achieved by the children sponsored by Friends of Ngong Road at the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation.

Lorine says . . .

My experience of being a beneficiary of the NRCF program has been educational, adventurous, and amazing. From the yearly camps to the overflow of support from my sponsor and the organization. NRCF has been very instrumental in shaping the woman that I have become through the Life Skills training, educational support from the beginning of my O level (grade school) to the end of my A level (high school), and also the feeding program that helped my mind be at ease over when the next meal would come. I look forward to running my own business and sponsoring a child. Again I say thank you to the organization for the opportunity.

Warm regards,

Lorine

Emmanuel says…

My experience at Ngong Road Children’s Foundation is one where I can use two words to describe it: “grateful and thankful”. I enrolled in the program in 2010 at the age of eleven years. My academic journey hasn’t been a smooth one. In fact, I could describe it as surfing through strong ocean waves, but NRCF was always there to help me surf the tides.

How the program has positively impacted my life

The program gave me a scholarship from primary school, when young, to university for my education. NRCF also provided Life Skills training and other support programs. I am currently interning as an ICT intern in the program as a TechMate. This internship has greatly empowered me economically and upscaled my technical skills in matters concerning information technology.

What does my future look like?

I could describe my future from the lens of an optimist. One that is promising and demanding as well. I view myself as growing even better. This could be by adding more academic qualifications to my portfolio and having reliable years of experience in the business information, and technology arena and demanding in the aspect that all the achievements I want to make will require me to push myself beyond ordinary limits. I do believe that thus far I have proven that I am capable of being and doing better and the rate at which I am growing is intensifying rather than slowing.

Thank you all,

Emmanuel

March 24, 2022 By Victor Wambua Leave a Comment

The Saturday Program

Each Saturday we host a child development program with the help of our Case Managers. The program consists of fun activities surrounding a wholesome fresh lunch prepared and served by our cooks. A nurse is on hand to distribute multivitamins and deworming pills regularly and meets with individual children who are ill, referring them to clinics or prescribing treatment as appropriate. The nurse also gives health talks to different age groups. The Saturday Program Coordinator organizes activities geared towards cognitive development, and social and physical development. We invite volunteers to support running the activities as well as bring in new ideas. The activities rotate between the following themes;

Cognitive activities include book reading and puzzle games
Olympic athletics which is all about running (which Kenyans are famous for)
Clubs and talent search including drama, music, and Taekwondo
Ball games such as soccer and Katie (dodgeball)
Crazy Olympics. This includes crazy games such as banana foot pass relay, balloon relay, three-legged relay, and sack relay.

In 2020, we put the Saturday Program on hold due to COVID-19. This dealt a big blow to our students as the Saturday Program is a good opportunity for kids to build memories, friendship, sportsmanship, and enjoy a “sumptuous” meal together. We resumed the program in May of 2021 but, despite all the hype, the attendance was very low as most parents and guardians were very cautious of releasing their children due to COVID-19 fears. Program coordinators faced challenges in organizing activities with minimal contact and ensuring compliance with Ministry of Health guidelines. However, the program has grown, reaching over 90% attendance in the last quarter of the year. The holiday break saw high attendance, necessitating a larger field for next year.

The August Camp was also canceled due to Covid-19 and with the change of the school calendar, the Saturday Program has now become the new “mini-camp”. The Saturday Program has defined the true meaning of the NRCF family as the staff and students come together to share joy and happiness with each other and forget about the hustle and bustle of the slums and city. It is also during the Saturday Program that the Case Managers get to do further follow-up on the child’s wellbeing.