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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Elimu Hub Update

We started the construction of the Elimu Hub in October with an expected completion date of December. However, we encountered some county government approval hiccups which have delayed the implementation of the project substantially. The approvals are driven by the Physical Planning Act which sets out requirements for development permits. This includes redoing the architectural drawings through a certified architect and applying for an administrative change to allow for the use of containers for the students’ resource center at our new location. The two processes will take up to 2 months to be completed. 

While the vendor has completed 70% of the work (purchasing and fabricating the containers with doors and windows), 30% of the work (joining the containers and installation of gypsum walls and floor) has to be done on-site after government approval. We also had to revise the number of containers down to six following the government requirements on space utilization. 

We are hopeful that Elimu Hub will be completed by the end of February 2022. 

Thank you once again for supporting us in making ELimu Hub a reality!

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Creating Elimu Hub – A Collaborative Experience

Students, alumni and staff are all very excited about the prospects of Elimu Hub becoming a reality. Part of what makes it so exciting is that it began as a small idea about how we could create more space for the Computer Lab at the new NRCF offices. As Friends of Ngong Road team shared thoughts, the idea grew. What about something that served more students, and perhaps alumni? What if we could dedicate space to an expanded library? Feedback and ideas were exchanged for creating a unique, special space for our students. And then, we started dreaming about how could we design the space in a way that was eco-conscious, inexpensive, and inclusive. Thus, the solar-powered shipping container Hub was born.

After we together arrived at an overall design, the U.S. team came back with the thought of naming the place. At first, we were simply thinking we’d call it the “Student Resource Center”. But when we started to consider how to relate the name with our mission, our eyes opened to some creative thinking. Many of our ideas came from asking our students. That got them very excited. 

In the end, we decided on “Elimu Hub”. ‘Elimu’ translates to ‘education’ and is aligned with our overall mission. ‘Hub’ helped express how our new place would become a center of activity, innovation, and creativity. The combined name is meaningful in the Kenyan context and it’s easily translatable to our English-speaking sponsors and supporters.

We followed up the new name with creating some wonderful graphics that brought together the physical design of the containers, bringing to life the idea of a central hub. The graphics expressed vitality and creativity and along with the building renderings, Elimu Hub is becoming more real every day. 

Each and every week, NRCF and FONR meet as an Operations Committee to share information, express ideas, and work together through issues that keep the organization running smoothly. Last year’s Food from Friends campaign is another example of successful collaboration. During the 2020 crisis, we identified critical needs for families and quickly found ways to source and distribute food support. Working together, we ensured families survived the pandemic and worked together to ensure their well-being.

Our collaborative working relationship is also an essential part of our annual planning process. From September through December each year, we work together to budget and plan activities, programs, and campaigns both in the US and in Kenya. Working together as a united team, with strong communications and appreciation for differing perspectives has made it possible for us to collaboratively manage for the long term and respond to short term issues. 

Establishing communication and collaboration style enabled quick creation and pursuit of Elimu Hub. We are thrilled to be able to bring this safe, reliable resource to our students in Nairobi. We look forward to bringing you along on this journey.