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 success story of Nickson

My name is Nickson and I am a Ngong Road Children’s Foundation program alumni. The NRCF program initiative quickly spread in my neighborhood, and my mother heard of it. She immediately applied, and I was fortunate enough to get a slot.

Upon joining the program, I was admitted to one of their focus elementary schools. After completing my primary education, I attended Dr. Ribeiro Parklands Boys High School in When I was at Parklands High, I engaged myself in co-curricular activities that kept me active all through. I was not only participating in one sport but in three. I was playing rugby, which is my favorite sport, as well as football and handball. When I was in fourth grade, I knew that I wanted to take a course in hospitality when I joined college, as I had an interest in cooking and preparing different drinks.

I completed my high school education and enrolled at Zetech University to take a certificate course in food and beverage production. I loved the course, would often practice cooking at home. I graduated in December 2022 and became a certified chef.

Last year TechMates program piqued my interest in learning a new skill. I did an interview, which was successful, and was accepted as an intern for the March program. I took the digital marketing path, and I immediately started taking the courses outlined by the program for that path. 

After the internship, which lasts 3 months, I am aiming to transition into a digital marketing freelancer by June’s end. Once in a while, during the weekends, I work as a chef at the restaurant at Tangaza University in Bomas. I also work as a Karibu loo associate. As a Karibu loo associate, I maintain clean portable toilets and manage the handwash area.

Aiming to start a restaurant and utilize TechMates program skills for marketing and growth. I am extremely grateful to the program for not only taking me through my education but also for the opportunity to join the TechMates program and for making it possible for me to learn a new skill.

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Computer Training Program for our 2022 high school graduates

Computer literacy has evolved into an essential skill in the current digital age for a variety of tasks. However, to fully leverage the benefits of these packages, it is important to have the necessary training and skills. That is where the computer packages training comes in and that is why we offer this training package. Colleges and universities require some level of computer literacy and we want to ensure that as our high school graduates transition to higher learning institutions, they are well-equipped.

Belmont International College conducts training in NRCF computer lab at Elimu Hub. Training begins this month and lasts for three months, starting at 8 am and ending in the afternoon.. Some packages offered are Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, publisher, internet, and email. Students undergo training and take two exams: one from Belmont International College and the other from Kenya National Examinations Council.

In addition, the NRCF program’s ICT department is holding a web development boot camp for these students. Our lab instructor conducts this training, which runs concurrently with the training for computer packages. This training covers basic HTML, CSS, and Javascript programs and a WordPress introduction. Students are able to build professional portfolios to advertise, showcase abilities, and learn website building skills.

We also look forward to partnering with DirectEd and signing a Memorandum of Understanding. Directed is a UK-based charitable organization on a mission to deliver coding programs and scholarships to under-resourced high-potential students between high school and university in Africa. By signing this partnership, the students will additionally have a 1-week introductory coding course including a remote Python course.

As the students learn these skills, they will also get time to conduct their career research as they look forward to settling for their desired courses. We are confident that they will benefit from these programs and apply the skills they gain in their courses.  

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The Aspiring “A” Student

My name is Michael, I consider myself to be a highly ambitious student. I reside in Nairobi with my mother and four siblings. I was attending a local school, St. Joseph of Tarpes, before joining the program.

Immediately I enrolled in one of the program’s focus schools, where I took my Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and achieved above-average performance. I was the top performer in my school and one of the top five performers in the NRCF program.

This achievement earned me a spot at top performing high school in Siaya County, an extra-county-level boarding boys’ high school. They have dubbed the institution “the gentlemen’s school.”

This is because of its reputation for producing moral and visionary leaders like Prof. John Lonyangapuo, the governor of West Pokot County, and the late Tom Mboya, a freedom warrior, among others. In January 2020, I began at the school. In my final year of high school, I have diligently worked to maintain a high grade point average.. I’ve been the school captain since I was in my third year. I am the president of various clubs, including mathematics, science and engineering, and modern dance.

Aiming to get an “A” on my final high school exams. I want to be the top student in the program as well as among the top students in my school. I’d want to attend the University of Nairobi and study chemical engineering, which would allow me to create and construct chemical manufacturing processes, or human pathology, which is the study of the causes and consequences of diseases or injuries on the human body.

Delighted to be a part of the program! I would like to express my gratitude to my sponsor for supporting me through this educational experience. I want to be a successful alumnus who gives back to the program so that other students may benefit from the same high-quality education I have received.

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Food Aid Support Program

In March 2020, food aid support was enabled for parents affected by job loss due to COVID-19. In addition, most people had to stay at home due to the enforced restrictions. The majority of the food assistance at the time came from different partners and donors. The entire undertaking was referred to as “food from friends.”

Three years after the epidemic, the economy has not fully recovered, leaving most parents unemployed or struggling to support their families. As a result, NRCF is continuing to provide food assistance to these parents as well as any other program parents who are struggling to put a meal on the table due to other factors like illness or other hardships.

COVID-19 loosened in 2022, we ceased food aid support for parents, but tracked those still needing it. This was done per department. Case managers identified multiple parents in their caseload requiring food assistance and provided fixed packages to distribute monthly from allocated food to each parent.

This will be the norm in 2023 too as we continue to support struggling parents. The food aid program has so far helped more than 130 parents in the first quarter of 2023. Our aim is to be able to assist all NRCF parents who are having a hard time feeding their families.

We call upon well-wishers to help us continue offering this support to our parents. 

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The Inspiring Story of Clare

My name is Clare. My name means “shining or bright,” and I was told that it was given to me by my mother because she knew I would be a bright girl in school and she also wanted me to have a bright future. I have four other siblings with whom I share my home, but growing up was not easy.

My grandmother, who has raised me along with my siblings, learned of a sponsorship opportunity at Ngong Road Children’s Foundation and requested assistance there right away. After passing my interview, I was given the opportunity to join the program and started attending one of the program’s focus primary schools for my elementary education, where I sat for my Kenya Certificate of Primary Education. While I was in grades 6 and 7, I was appointed as the class prefect for the corresponding classes, and I thoroughly enjoyed expressing my leadership abilities.

I later enrolled at I later enrolled at a girls’ high school, a national-level girls’ high school in Tharaka Nithi county. I was overjoyed when I entered the school since it is one of the few institutions in the country that consistently achieves high marks in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) tests, and I knew it would keep me on my toes academically. My favorite subjects have been mathematics, English, and biology, and I’ve done well in my overall academic performance. Apart from academics, I am a member of the school’s football team, debate club, and the Young Catholic Society’s organizing secretary (YCS).

I am now in my senior year of high school and am hopeful that I will graduate with honors and be able to pursue a bachelor’s degree program in aeronautical engineering at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). After finishing my bachelor’s degree, I hope to continue my education and pursue a master’s degree at Oxford University in England.

I work hard not just to create opportunities for myself, but also to express my appreciation to my sponsor and the NRCF program for believing in me and guiding me through my schooling to where I am today. NRCF is actually impacting young people’s lives, and I am pleased to be a part of this life-changing program.