2022 June Archives - Friends of Ngong Road

June 22, 2022 By Sallyanne Atieno Leave a Comment

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.

June 22, 2022 By Sallyanne Atieno Leave a Comment

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.

June 21, 2022 By Sallyanne Atieno Leave a Comment

Elimu Hub is open!

Elimu Hub opened on May 18.

The Ngong Road Children’s Foundation site, which is close to Nairobi’s administrative building, is home to Elimu Hub, which is the hub for educational activities, resources, and community. In Swahili, the word “Elimu” means education.

It is enclosed by a secure wall that gives students a sense of security and protection in a volatile and occasionally violent environment. Our updated computer lab and larger library are located at Elimu Hub.
The library is an important resource center for our students as most of them are in school. Besides the books we have acquired through the years, Braeburn School donated more books that will be beneficial to our students. With this gift, we now have more books for our growing community. All this will help us to ensure that our students achieve their academic goals.

The computer lab will be helpful for our students as a tool in their education. Primary-age students from Nelson Mandela Academy take computer classes at the computer lab during the week. Students from other primary schools take classes on Saturdays before they attend the Saturday Program. Recent High School graduates will take their Computer classes at the computer lab taught by Belmont College. Course graduates receive a certificate, making them marketable in the job market.

We have never before had a purpose-built structure. The new Elimu Hub, constructed using six 20-foot shipping containers, is a fun and practical structure that benefits both personnel and pupils. Its completion was eagerly awaited, ensuring a positive impact on the community.

Our launch ceremony had representatives from the organizations who made Elimu Hub possible. Representatives from the Rotary Club of Kikuyu, Braeburn School, and Container 254 attended. Rotary Club of South Minneapolis Evenings and Friends of Ngong Road recognized, despite not present. The event consisted of performances from our students who presented poems and dances. We even had a taekwondo performance.

Kelvin Thuku, our program manager, appreciated the growth of Elimu Hub, from the idea to the implementation stage and finally its unveiling. He regards it as one of the biggest achievements of the organization. He also expressed his gratitude to the collaborators for their assistance with the project’s construction and completion.

The president of the Rotary Club of Kikuyu, Ann Ichung’wa, officially launched the Elimu Hub making it ready for use by our students.

We extend our utmost gratitude to our partner organizations and all of you that contributed to our Elimu Hub campaign This project would never have happened without your support. Thank you for helping us in the process of transforming the lives of our students.