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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Creating “Techies”


Because all jobs now require some level of digital literacy, we continue to invest in our digital literacy and technical programs, enriching the educational journey of students from their start in the program to becoming alumni. By utilizing two new dedicated facilities (Elimu Hub and Blockchain Lab) and new/expanded programs, we have enhanced our students’ technical education as follows:

Primary Students

Basic Computer Training to Get Students Started

The journey begins with Basic Computer Training (BCT), which introduces our students to computers. This is a weekly activity for our primary students. BCT acquaints them with essential computer operations, from typing to navigating the communication portal, making them comfortable using a computer and confident in corresponding with their sponsors.

Computer Applications Training to Become Effective

For the older primary students, being proficient in essential software applications is a crucial step. Through comprehensive training in Microsoft Office Suite, web browsers, file management, and more, students acquire the skills necessary for effective digital communication and documentation.  

Programming that Nurtures Future Innovators

Introducing young minds to the world of coding through Scratch, a user-friendly block-based language, fosters critical thinking and creativity. Students undertake exciting projects, enhancing their problem-solving abilities and setting the stage for future programming endeavors.

Creative Sessions to Encourage Artistic Expression

Recognizing the importance of artistic skills, we offer creative sessions that teach students to use tools like Canva and Paint. These skills enhance their artistic expression, encouraging well-rounded development.

Secondary Students

Advanced Computer Training to Unleash Academic Potential

Secondary students delve deeper into the realm of computers, harnessing them for academic research and innovation. The program teaches students to leverage technology for their scholarly pursuits, ensuring they are well-prepared for higher education.

Programming to Empower the Developers of Tomorrow

Programming education continues with secondary-level students mastering HTML, CSS, Javascript, and WordPress (which powers 43% of the internet). Armed with these fundamental languages, students construct their digital portfolios, showcasing their growth and capabilities.

Post-Secondary Students and Alumni

Computer Packages Certification to Improve Employability

This program extends our students’ knowledge of computer packages (Microsoft Office Applications, the Internet, etc.). After completion, they receive a certificate recognized nationally, which is very important when students apply for jobs as it affirms their computer literacy.

Coding Bootcamps to Build Deeper Programming Skills

Advanced programming sessions, known as coding boot camps, improve the coding skills of secondary graduates. Through intensive training, these students hone their programming abilities, thus positioning themselves as capable contenders in the ever-evolving tech landscape. Recently, we partnered with the DirectEd Development Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides free coding programs to high-potential students, to conduct a series of boot camps.

TechMates Program to Launch Alumni Into the Digital Frontier

The TechMates Training Program (a tech internship) is a transformative experience for our alumni. It provides three to six months of digital marketing and advanced programming skills training that not only enhances employability but also broadens their horizons in the digital realm. Since its inception in 2021, over 20 students have gone through the program, with most securing job opportunities within three months of completing their internship. TechMates have become freelancers for Ngong Road Children’s Foundation and Karibu Loo in Nairobi, Friends of Ngong Road in Minneapolis, and for our strategic partner, Lido Nation Foundation (a blockchain technology advocacy group), giving them vital real-world experience.

Science Mill Camp to Build STEM Knowledge

We are collaborating with Science Mill (an organization dedicated to fostering a love of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in young minds) to conduct a one-week STEM training camp at our campus.

Students are exposed to hands-on learning activities, cutting-edge technology, and expert coaching from Science Mill educators. Our students experiment with robots, coding, scientific experiments, and creative problem-solving. This exposure enriches our kids’ educational experiences and provides them with valuable skills that are becoming increasingly important in today’s business world.

Dedicated Facilities to Support Learning

Our two new facilities, the Elimu Hub and the Blockchain Lab, are centers of innovation. These dedicated spaces offer uninterrupted access to resources and foster technical exploration and growth for our students.

Powered by solar energy, our tech facilities ensure consistent and reliable access to technology, avoiding the problems caused by Nairobi’s inconsistent power supply, providing students with uninterrupted learning experiences.

To us, technical education is not just a program; it’s a transformative journey that equips students with the skills, knowledge, and mindset necessary to thrive in any future career.

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Waiting students

Victor

Victor is a 9-year-old boy on the waiting list for a sponsor for almost a year. His dreams clash with the harsh realities of life in the slums. He shares a humble home with his parents and five older siblings. A home filled with love, but often strained by the weight of limited resources. His mother, a tireless casual laborer, and his father, navigating through “Juakali” jobs, try their best to provide for the family. But their efforts still bring uncertainty, as these jobs offer no promises for daily or long-term work.

One thing stands as a beacon of hope for Victor: education. He is full of potential, but limited financial resources make it hard for him to consistently be in school. His mother’s voice carries pride and concern as she speaks of her son’s yearning for education. She knows that with a sponsorship, Victor will perform exceptionally well. A consistent education would be the key to unlocking his future. Victor’s favorite subject is English, and he would like to become a dentist in the future.

Victor’s story is a plea for a worthy chance. A chance to nurture potential, to empower dreams, and to transform a life. Every coin invested in Victor’s education is a brick laid in the foundation of a future that holds promise not only for him but for the community that he will serve.  Consider sponsoring Victor.

Angel

Meet Angel, a 10-year-old young girl ready to embark on a journey to transformation through education, but this has proven hard for her over the years. Every morning, she has to board a matatu (public bus) to school because of how far the school is, and there are times when her parents, burdened by life’s challenges, struggle to afford her transportation. On the days her parents can’t afford her bus fare, she has to wake up earlier and walk to school. However, transportation is just one of the many hurdles she faces. Angel’s father, once the provider of the family, now battles elephantiasis, leaving him confined to his bed. Her mother, now the sole provider, works as a casual laborer while still taking care of their infant, other children, and their home.  The ability to keep Angel in school is becoming increasingly difficult.

Amidst all these challenges, Angel remains a hardworking student. Math and English are her favorite subjects, and she aspires to become a medical doctor. Her aspiration to become a doctor is not just a vision but a testament to her boundless potential. She is also a gifted artist who loves to sketch creative drawings. 

A sponsorship for Angel would be an investment in her potential, a commitment to nurturing the bright future that she represents. With your generosity, you can encourage her artistic talent, fuel her love for learning, and ultimately shape her into the medical doctor she aspires to be. Your compassion will be the cornerstone upon which Angel’s success story is built. Consider sponsoring Angel.

Join us in this journey, where every sponsorship is a step towards a rewarding future for a student in need.

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Moving Forward From High School

The journey from high school to higher education is an exciting and transformative one. Our 2022 high school graduates were provided with impactful experiences and training programs before embarking on their post-secondary journey. From life skills to career guidance, sexual health education to computer literacy, and more, the graduates are well-prepared for their future endeavors.

Life Skills and Sexual Reproductive Health Training

High school graduates began with crucial training in Life Skills. We designed this training to provide them with skills that will establish a solid foundation as they transition into a more socially oriented learning environment.

These skills, ranging from effective communication and time management to problem-solving and decision-making, are not only vital for academic success but also for personal growth and development. 

Our older students, trained as Youth Peer Providers, conducted a comprehensive sexual and reproductive health session for them. In a world where informed decisions are crucial, this training empowered the graduates to make responsible choices about their sexual health.

Computer Packages   

In today’s technologically driven world, proficiency in basic computer skills is important for success in any field. This training, offered by Belmont College, introduced them to the world of technology and started their interaction with digital tools such as Microsoft Office, email, and the Internet. They also received certificates at the end of their learning.

Post-Secondary Career Camp

This camp, designed to prepare them for their academic journey, included career training sessions and insights into the college and university placement process. Engaging discussions with buddies,” who are post-secondary students pursuing various careers, provided the graduates with valuable insights into different courses of study and helped them better understand life as a post-secondary student.

Volunteering Program

Recognizing the importance of gaining real-world experience, the graduates attended a 1-week volunteer program. This exposed them to the inner workings of various firms, schools, and organizations, providing them with a glimpse of how the professional world functions. This firsthand experience not only gave them insights into the different industries but also helped them understand the dynamics of a work environment.

Coding Bootcamp and Scholarship Committee Interviews

Through our partnership with the DirectEd Development Foundation, the graduates embarked on a coding boot camp. This intensive 3-part program offered by tutors from DirectEd allowed them to develop coding skills, with students achieving varying levels of expertise, such as becoming full-stack developers or front-end developers.

The graduates also presented their chosen courses to the scholarship committee. This stage is crucial before they join the different higher learning institutions, as their courses are either approved or rejected. 

With these skills in hand, our 2022 graduates are about to join their new learning institutions to pursue their post-secondary courses. We have 7 students going to take degree courses, 12 going to take diploma courses, and 9 going to take certification courses. After completing various training sessions and learning, we believe they are well-prepared to begin their new learning journey. We wish them all the best, and we hope to see them transform their lives through education.

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Camp is back!

Students in Orange
students at grammar camp

We are delighted to announce the return of camp! After a pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have resumed our camps, and they are better than ever. NRCF Camp is designed to provide educational value and a fun-filled experience, as well as an opportunity for our students to spend much-needed time outside of the slums. Camp empowers students by equipping them with essential skills for their futures.

We have restructured camp based on school levels to enhance its effectiveness and will take place throughout the year instead of in August. The camps include:

  • Grammar Camp 
  • Junior Camp
  • Senior Camp 
  • Post-Secondary Career Camp
  • Alumni Camp
Students at senior camp

For the younger students, our Grammar Camp will be a one-day event. This camp will include a visit to a national park or conservancy, providing an exciting opportunity for exploration and adventure.

Junior Camp aims to inspire curiosity and provide students with tools and support to realize their potential. Offering a blend of fun activities, promoting innovation and creativity, life skills development, and projects aligned with the Competency-Based Curriculum newly taught in Kenyan schools. 

Senior Camp supports the smooth transition to secondary school. They will engage in team-building activities and workshops focused on personal development and goal setting. They will prepare older students to act as buddies to the younger students. Camps cultivate confidence and resilience in students, equipping them with vital soft skills for navigating high school successfully.

The Post-Secondary Career Camp took place from April 21st to 23rd with the theme “WePower PS Career Camp,”. This camp focused on empowering students as they explored various career options and gained insights into the placement process and post-secondary life. The camp included discussions between high school graduates paired with “buddies”, post-secondary students in a variety of careers. External facilitators shared valuable insights about career choices and course selection.

Alumni Camp and the Post-Secondary Career Camp took place earlier this year. The Alumni Camp, held from January 20th to 22nd celebrated the achievements of the 2022 post-secondary graduates and welcomed them into the Alumni Department. The camp featured job preparedness training, employability skills development, and emotional intelligence workshops. Participants received valuable training from “Be The Leader” (an organization in Kenya providing this specialized training). They covered topics such as job interview skills, entrepreneurship, and career development. These sessions empowered the alumni and enhanced their competitiveness in the job market.

students at alumni camp

We are thrilled to bring back our camps. We eagerly anticipate the students’ acquisition of new knowledge and the joy they will experience through these activities.

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Amy’s Trip to Kenya

Amy, Chief Operating Officer of Friends of Ngong Road, recently visited the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation (NRCF) and Karibu Loo (KLL) offices in Nairobi, Kenya. She was there for two weeks. Her objectives were to work with NRCF and KLL staff on a number of financial and operational projects and to visit with students and alumni of our programs. Some highlights from Amy’s visit include:

Visited with Sponsored Students and Alumni

The most fun part of visiting Kenya is spending time with kids and young adults.  Amy spent time at the Saturday program, popped in on alumni in a coding “boot camp” in the amazing ElimuHub computer lab, and visited with the young people she, her husband Daryl, and son Nate have sponsored.  Their sponsored post-secondary students and alumni gave Amy helpful insights on their experiences in the program which she has shared with leaders.  And if you love babies, it will make you smile to know that Amy met the one-year-old daughter of the alumni she and Daryl first sponsored.  Seeing the impact of sponsorship on the next generation is what it’s all about.

Attended Employment Programs for Alumni

Small Business Training – Amy attended a small business training session for alumni interested in starting or improving their small businesses. This very practical training, which is particularly focused on start-ups, is done in partnership with the Kenya Small Business Development Center. The Saturday training usually takes place at the NRCF office, but that day it was held at Strathmore University and was facilitated by Isaac Mwangi, an instructor at Strathmore and one of the county leads for the Kenya Small Business Development Center. 

Metrics! Since joining NRCF, Martha has significantly advanced our employment programs to support alumni. We now need a way to assess the impact of these and future programs.  Martha, Kelvin, and Amy brainstormed a list of metrics – measurable indicators of alumni success and upward mobility – we could use to assess the impact of these programs over time.  This working session has already led to a plan to update this summer’s annual alumni survey to capture key indicators and develop the analytics for our monitoring and assessment. 

Focused on Finance Processes and Controls

A key focus of Amy’s trips is always financial processes and controls, both for NRCF and KLL.  On this trip, she determined that our processes are working well and as designed, but everyone was excited (really!) to find ways to be more effective and efficient.  They tackled and found great opportunities in areas like procurement, managing inventory of supplies, and school fee payments.  At Karibu Loo, they completed a post-implementation review of the team’s fantastic work in 2022 to leverage our accounting system more fully for the sales and invoicing processes. 

Reviewed NRCF Governance

The Board – Amy joined the NRCF board meeting in person to report on finance matters. After the meeting, she and Kelvin Thuku hosted a celebration to welcome two new board members, Neena Shah and Jeff Nthiga who bring important skills and new energy to the NRCF board. They also bid farewell to retired board members Robert Murimi and Anupa Sanghrajka with thanks for their many contributions. Martha Otieno (our employment programs officer) and several alumni joined the event to share their inspiring stories with board members. 

Engaging Alumni in Governance – In its meeting, the board discussed and agreed that having the voice of alumni at the table would be very useful and agreed to develop an alumni advisory board member role.  This role will leverage alumni experiences and perspectives in our programming and give them an opportunity to learn how the governance of an NGO works.

Overall, Amy said it was a highly productive trip.  Seeing the passion and commitment of the staff, the energy of the students, and the impact that is being made, was wonderful to experience.