Newsletter Archives - Page 22 of 36 - Friends of Ngong Road

November 7, 2019 By Paula Meyer 1 Comment

Note from Paula

Children grow up one day at a time and while it is happening, it can feel so very slow. Friends of Ngong Road is finishing its thirteenth year of operations and because of that, we have a large number of students who are now completing their education and launching careers. In September and October 2019, twenty young people got new jobs. Here is a sampling…

Selina, Mary, Cynthia, Lydia, and Ann got jobs as beauticians or nail technicians
Stephen is working as a freelance computer technician
Brian is working in the family business as a meat supplier
Victor and Wycliffe are both working as entrepreneurs
Hellen is working in a health care clinic, registering patients
Margaret and Patrick are both working for Ngong Road Children’s Foundation
Clinton is working as a refrigerator technician and Shammah as a plumber
Vivian got a job in food service at Kenyatta National Hospital

One of the students my husband and I sponsored completed her education about four years ago and informed me over the weekend that she is finally going to officially get her diploma in December. Another that we sponsored will also get his diploma in December and is working as a civil engineer on a water project near Jomo Kenyatta Airport.

Students who finished high school several years ago continue to work to improve their situations. Alice, who finished high school in 2013 and then had a baby, has gotten a part-time job at Safari.com working at corporate-hosted events. Esther, who graduated in 2012, got a new job as a customer service representative for a VIP travel agency.

With each of these stories, we see themes familiar to our own lives. You finish your education, get a job, then perhaps a better job. Sometimes you get sidetracked for a while, but then there is a course correction and a new opportunity comes along.

These are now young adults living normal, productive, middle-class lives in Kenya. They have broken the cycle of poverty and broken free of the slums. This is our mission and in each person who gets a job, we say Mission Accomplished!

Thank you for being part of it, for being patient with students who get side-tracked, and for celebrating with us for each life transformed.

Paula Meyer
Founder and President

October 15, 2019 By Kelvin Thuku 1 Comment

Kelvin Thuku’s Trip to the U.S.

Kelvin recently returned from a ten-day visit to the U.S. Kelvin is the Programme Coordinator at Ngong Road Children’s Foundation and joined the organization in 2013 as a computer lab instructor. Today Kelvin leads our Information and Communications Technology Department, Summer Camp, and Saturday Program hence he gets to interact with all the children in the program and understand them quite well. During his visit, he was able to meet various sponsors and donors and spend time with the US-based staff. Kelvin was able to help sponsors understand the supportive community programs that their sponsored children engage in and how these programs help them in the journey of transforming their lives.

A Tight Schedule
During his time in the US, Kelvin traveled throughout Minnesota, Iowa, and Texas meeting with sponsors and donors as well as giving presentations to churches (Christ Lutheran Church of Alamo Heights and Our Saviors Lutheran Church in the San Antonio area, friends and family, and of course at our Annual Gathering and Friends of Friends fundraising breakfast. He also met individually with some sponsors and donors and gave insight regarding the students they sponsor.

Kelvin is responsible for the technology and budget planning, therefore he was able to spend time with the tech team and gain a deeper understanding of the systems that the organization is leveraging to better support operations at NRCF. He also spent time with the board member in charge of financials and controls. He also spent time with the strategic planning committee discussing the scaling plan.

In addition to these meetings, Kelvin was able to experience life in Minnesota where he visited some of the landmarks such as Stone Arch Bridge, the Minneapolis sculpture garden, and the Mall of America. And he tried lots of new foods. He also had many opportunities for professional development working with our U.S. staff and board members and by meeting with other professional groups like the South Metro Minneapolis Evenings Rotary club and individuals like Paul Walker of Gallup to gain insight and experience.

A Great Experience
For Kelvin, the trip from Nairobi to Minnesota was a long one, but quite fulfilling since it was his first time in the US and his first trip out of Africa.

Kelvin is grateful to the organization for giving him the chance to travel to the US and get all the exposure and interaction. He is also grateful to all the sponsors and donors who spent time with him and for allowing him to share his perspectives of the program.

September 14, 2019 By Kelvin Thuku 1 Comment

Eric

Eric joined the program in 2007 and was sponsored by Keith and Kathleen Kale. Since a young age, Eric has been a focused, dedicated student and has wanted to make his family proud. However, getting to where he is today hasn’t been easy.

Eric was raised by his mother. His father died when he was young. To make ends meet, Eric’s mother found occasional work near the slums such as working in a salon and making beadwork. With the work, Eric’s mother was able to rent a small two-roomed home in the slums. Home had iron sheets walls, no electricity or running water.

Eric’s mother instilled in her children a strong appreciation for education despite limited material goods.

Eric knew from a young age that his involvement in the Friends of Ngong Road Program, through which he gained access to education, was his vehicle to a transformed life for himself and his family too.

Eric attended G.S.U Primary School, one of our past partner primary schools, St. Joseph’s High School, and then graduated from Kenyatta University with a Degree in purchasing.

Throughout his post-secondary career, Eric was a standout employee at Digital Divide Data, a company Friends of Ngong Road has partnered with in Nairobi with a very similar mission. They provide supplemental income and employment experience for promising secondary school graduates and have included some of our students. Eric’s role at Digital Divide Data was to transcribe handwritten articles to an electronic format for clients such as museums and libraries. In return, Digital Divide Data helped pay for some of Eric’s university tuition.

Upon graduation, Eric was promoted as a full-time Project Manager at Digital Divide Data, managing team and client interactions. He is looking for a new apartment out of the slums. He has made it into the Kenyan middle class.

His sponsors Keith and Kathleen Kale said, “We are very proud of Eric and his accomplishments. By keeping steadily on track, he was able to work his way through university and get his degree. He worked so hard and so many hours, it is inspiring. Congratulations to this fine young man.”

July 18, 2019 By Lacey Kraft Leave a Comment

NRCF Board of Directors

The board of our sister organization in Kenya, Ngong Road Children’s Foundation (NRCF), has dramatically strengthened its support and involvement over the last few years. The board in Kenya meets every other month to provide oversight and governance to the program and plays a direct role in helping graduates secure jobs by deploying their personal and professional networks. They additionally give of their time and energy by volunteering at camp, the Life Skills Program, and other special events. The Ngong Road Children’s Foundation Board of Directors includes:

Patrick Kyalo. Patrick joined the NRCF board in April 2019. Patrick holds a Bachelors of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Nairobi, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Human Resources Management from the Kenya Institute of Management, and certificates in public relations, counselling and project management. He is currently undertaking a Masters of Science in Human Resources Management at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology.

Patrick has experience managing human resource programs and strengthening organization systems in Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan. He is currently working at Christian Health Association of Kenya. He has previously worked with Amref Health Africa (Kenya), OXFAM Great Britain (Kenya, South Sudan, and DRC), and Intrahealth International through the USAID Capacity Kenya Project (Kenya).

Patrick’s main focus as an NRCF board member is human capital development and management and NGO capacity support. He provides advisory and policy guidance on human resources and institutional compliance matters. He is also interested in talent development and management, partnerships with potential training institutions, and employment services for graduates.

Patrick is motivated to volunteer for NRCF as he is inspired by the vision and mission of NRCF and because he wants to give back to society by making the children and other stakeholders feel worthy, loved, and dignified. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “The best way to find yourself is in the service of others.’’

Robert Murimi. In 2016, Robert became a member of NRCF board, and in January 2019, the board elected him as its chair.

He holds a Masters of Business Administration in Marketing and Strategic Management from the United States International University – San Diego Campus (California, U.S.), and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing Option) from the United States International University – Nairobi Campus (Nairobi, Kenya).

Robert is currently working as Chief Trainer/Lead Consultant at Impact Change Ltd. and has been there since 2009. He previously worked as an Associate Consultant (Business and Marketing) at Consultants for Effective Training Ltd., Marketing Director at Alfagen Furnishers Ltd., Marketing and Operations Manager at Art Ltd., and Area Manager (Eastern Division) at Gestetner Ltd.

In his service to NRCF as board chair, Robert focuses on program implementation, and policy development, and leads the board to ensure strategic plans are successfully implemented and objectives achieved. Robert engages in alumni, youth leadership, mentorship, aiding grade 8-12 students with goal-setting, studying methods, and exam support.

Robert’s motivation stems from the desire to positively touch people’s lives, particularly focusing on the younger generation. He is excited when their lives are transformed through programs with which he is involved.

Catherine Naliaka. Catherine joined the NRCF board in April 2019. She holds a Bachelor’s in Education, a Master of Science in Maternal and Child Health, a Master of Arts in Child Development, a Diploma in Human Resources, a Diploma in Counseling, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Child and Youth Development.

Catherine brings extensive experience in program development and NGO management having worked with Compassion International, Kenya since January 2000 where she has served in many roles. Currently, she serves in the Global Compassion International Office in Survival and Early Childhood.

Prior to joining Compassion, Catherine was a Lecturer at Kenya Polytechnic University College and worked as a Research Fellow for the University of Nairobi on a number of research projects.

In her role on the NRCF board, Catherine supports child management and compliance issue. She also participates in providing NGO capacity, ensuring NRCF goals met while safeguarding children’s interests, actively participating in their achievement.

Catherine is married to James Ondeng’ and they are parents to Immanuel, 23 years old. She and her husband serve in their local church. she loves to serve as a part-time nanny in a children’s orphan home. Her dedication to aiding underprivileged kids drives her commitment to collaborate with NRCF.

Judy Nyaga. Judy joined the NRCF board in 2018. She has 18 years of legal and corporate governance experience in the banking industry and is currently the Regional Head for Subsidiary Governance in Africa & Middle East for Standard Chartered Bank. In this role, Judy is responsible for driving high standards of corporate governance across Standard Chartered Bank’s subsidiaries in the Africa & Middle East regions.

Judy holds an Honors Degree in Law from the University of Nairobi and a Post-Graduate Degree in International Commercial Law from the University of Nottingham. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Strathmore Business School in Nairobi. She is a Certified Public Secretary and has passed the examinations required for registration as a Certified Public Accountant. Judy is also a 2015 Eisenhower Fellow.

Judy, NRCF board member, fervently aids in steering and pushing the management, ensuring steadfast achievement of organizational goals. With a legal and corporate governance background, Judy offers valuable insights to the board for overseeing legal and governance risks.

Additionally, she created a book club with some of the NRCF upper-primary school girls. The book club empowers girls to learn life lessons, improve oratory skills, and boost confidence by sharing stories before peers.

NRCF’s vision is to support the education of underprivileged children. This resonates greatly with Judy because she knows the difference a good education has made in her own life. Serving on the board and mentoring girls through the book club enables Judy in a small way to contribute to the education and well-being of vulnerable children.

Anupa Sanghrajka. Anupa joined the NRCF board in 2018. She is a chartered accountant by profession and holds a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Management. Currently, she is working in a family business based in Nairobi dealing with building products and interiors and property development. Previously, Anupa worked for KPMG in London in the Financial Audit and Advisory Department.

Anupa ensures NRCF’s financial controls align with best practices, maintaining robust processes as a dedicated board member.

She participates in monthly financial review meetings to understand the financials and provide support where required. Growing up in Kenya, Anupa has always aspired to participate in organizations that create an impact on the less fortunate.

Believing education ensures lasting impact, she’s drawn to NRCF for its commitment to sustainability and impactful learning. Anupa’s aim is also to transfer the business skills learned in the corporate world to NRCF.

Aruna Varsani. Aruna joined the NRCF board in April 2019. She is currently the Director of Montessori Plus Center Kindergarten and College in Nairobi and has been a part of Amref Health Africa and the Nairobi Cooking Club.

Aruna received her training in Early Childhood Teaching and Care from Gems School of Management and Montessori Plus Center.

On the NRCF board, Aruna focuses on of education programming part of the organization. She provides policy guidelines and recommendations on how to maximize the education opportunity NRCF is offering the sponsored children. Aruna also helps review project reports and policies.

She finds motivation in volunteering for NRCF, as working for and aiding the needy has always brought her immense pleasure. Seeing people deprived of facilities and resources due to poverty really motivated her to help care for others. Her interest is mainly in children’s education.

She aims to ensure that all children receive equal rights in education and can sustain themselves in the future.