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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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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Letter from Paula

Dear Friends,

In 2021, the Friends of Ngong Road Board of Directors concluded a strategic planning process that will guide our work for the next five years, from 2022-2026. We have made significant changes in our Mission and Vision to better reflect how the program is running today, and where we will need to focus our energy over the next five years.

UPDATED MISSION STATEMENT: recognizes the importance of employment in life transformation

“Empower Nairobi children living in poverty to transform their lives through education and support leading to employment.”

VISION: outlines our aspirations for the next five years

  1. Double our Impact in Kenya
    • Double the number of active students in the program from 375 to 750 
    • Increase the number of alumni from 125 to 325.
    • The program will then have affected 1000+ students.
  1. Improve employment outcomes
    • Enhance existing programs supportive of employment:  Life Skills Training (high school); computer skills training (high school graduates); guidance counseling (high school); and alumni program.  New initiatives will include TechMates internships; entrepreneurship training; and an expanded placement office.
    • Achieve the goal of 75% or more of graduates employed within six months of program completion
  1. Ensure organizational sustainability
    • Implement streamlined operations (technology, program, process)
    • Define and implement the post-founder operating model and organization structure
    • Ensure a sustainable financial infrastructure
  2. Define earned income strategy
    • Evaluate Karibu Loo Limited’s strategic future – grow, hold or divest
    • Consider other earned income opportunities

SHARED VALUES AND CULTURE: shape how we act

Our values:

  • Respect 
  • Teamwork 
  • Integrity 
  • Student-Focused 
  • Reach Higher

Our culture:

  • We have a purpose 
  • We care
  • We drive results
  • We learn together

An exciting and challenging five years lie ahead.  

Thank you for your continued support as we make progress against our vision objectives.  

Gratefully,

Paula R. Meyer

President

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Changes to the Kenyan School System

Kenya was a British colony until it gained independence in 1963. After independence, many colonial influences persisted in the country, including the old British educational system (long abandoned in Britain). This system is test-based with key examinations that take place at the end of each academic term and then at the end of the equivalent of 8th grade and 12th grade. Students’ scores on these tests determine what secondary and post-secondary schools they can attend and the type of job they can get. Teaching in Kenya has almost exclusively revolved around preparing students to take these exams as their entire future hinges on how they score.  The movie “A Small Act” portrays the terrible pressure students feel to succeed in this system.  

The advantage of a test-based system for Kenyan educators is that it is easy for the government to determine where students are able to continue their schooling. For example, if a student scores above 400, they go to a quality government school, or below 250 they go to a trade school. There are however many disadvantages to the test-based system. It rewards students who can memorize the material but it doesn’t encourage any analytical thinking skills.

Teachers instruct students not to question them, but rather to learn what the teacher deems necessary. People view students who struggle with memorization as less intelligent, which limits their access to a life with better opportunities. Many students are not successful in this system.

Kenyan educators clearly understand some of the downsides to the old British system and the country is now transitioning to a Competency-Based Curriculum. This new educational system will teach students more analytical, critical thinking, as well as practical skills.  There will be many challenges with such a large systemic change, they will be transitioning for the next decade at a minimum.  Few teachers in Kenya have experienced any other system, so training teachers on how to teach in an entirely different way will be a monumental hill to climb. In addition, this will require the curriculum to be changed at every level and current high school and post-secondary placement processes will need to be redesigned. Our Case Managers in Kenya are staying up to date on the upcoming changes to anticipate needs, and to understand the organizational impact required to support students through the changes.

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COVID-19 Update

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to create havoc globally, positivity rates in Kenya continue to rise and fall in multiple waves. President Uhuru Kenyatta refers to this pattern as a “’containment seesaw.”

Like other countries, Kenya is trying to manage the Delta variant. Within the slums of Nairobi, poor sanitation and overcrowded living conditions make social distancing impossible.  Positivity rates rise and fall causing constant uncertainty which has brought about a renewed survival instinct in the Kenyan population.

Kenya Government and Health Ministry enforce mask-wearing and more to curb variant spread, minimize next wave’s impact.  A COVID-19 vaccine return to work policy for all civil servants has been implemented. Individuals in the government employ are required to be vaccinated so they can resume work physically and improve service delivery.  The Kenyan military is required to get vaccinated, or they will not be paid. 

Seventeen months have passed since Kenya reported the first case of COVID-19. One year later, in March 2021, Kenya rolled out a National Vaccine Deployment Plan to inoculate 10 million adults by June 2022 and 16 million by June 20, 2023. 

By the end of September, we will have administered 4.5 million doses. However, this is a small dent in the approximately 40 million people aged 12 and over.  It is slow due to limited vaccine availability and challenges with reaching the people in rural areas with the road system in poor condition.

At NRCF, we are adopting a similar policy due to our work which involves interaction with students, families, donors, and other stakeholders. We are pleased that progress is being made as 75% have at least the first dose, most with the AstraZeneca vaccine. It’s our goal to have all staff fully vaccinated by year-end.  Fortunately we have had only one student and three alumni be diagnosed with COVID-19.  Two of those alumni work at Karibu Loo.  The student and three alumni have all recovered.

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Karibu Loo Corner

Business update 

Karibu Loo has been affected by the pandemic. With the emergence of COVID-19 vaccines and with much of the world gradually lifting lockdowns and restrictions, the Kenyan economy had started to gain traction. We were hopeful that 2021 business performance would improve, but in March 2021 a second COVID wave came and restrictions were re-imposed. As a result, business declined in April and May as many event planners and companies canceled events.

One major trend since the onset of the pandemic in 2020 and leading into 2021 is an increase in long-term rentals.  These are mostly construction companies that have continued operating and renting loos throughout the downturn. This has enabled Karibu Loo to survive during the pandemic.    

Digital Marketing Campaign 

While business was challenging in 2020, it was critical to preparing for the future. To set ourselves up for success, we launched a digital marketing campaign to raise awareness and generate new sales. We believe once we have fully implemented this online marketing campaign, it will yield results in both the short term and the future, post-COVID-19.

The campaign is being managed in Kenya with help of U.S. digital marketing volunteers. With the easing of COVID restrictions and our digital marketing campaign starting, the business has begun to pick up in June. July looks promising. 

The campaign continues using humor. Our Chief Creative Volunteer, Steve Kotvis, has developed Google Search ads like: 

“Today’s my wedding day, when I say “I do”,  don’t forget Karibu Loo”

“Count on your crew, Gotta go #1, Gotta go #2. Remove the phew, call Karibu Loo”.

We monitor response rates and poor-performing ads are eliminated and replaced with new ones. 

The number of people calling and emailing to enquire about our services and pricing rates have been increasing, and sales are improving.