News - Page 71 of 92 - Friends of Ngong Road

May 25, 2017 By Lacey Kraft Leave a Comment

Secondary Graduate Test Results are In!

The class of 2016 graduated last December after completing their “big scary school career-end test” called the Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). The KCSE is a comprehensive exam testing students’ last four years of knowledge and is used to determine what caliber of post-secondary school to which a student may be admitted. Even if a student doesn’t typically experience test anxiety, he or she probably does for this one.

This year 31 students took the KCSE. Among test-takers, 15 achieved C- or above, 16 got D or D-, leaving one who didn’t pass the exam.

Although it may sound low to American ears, the Kenyan system based on the old British system does not have “grade creep” and a “C” is truly average. Furthermore, educators believed that the KCSE test posed greater difficulty compared to previous years, potentially causing grades to slightly deviate from students’ usual performance.

Since December, the class of 2016 has been busy at our local office completing a computer certificate course, soft skills training, and preparing their school applications.

This year, the program anticipates the enrollment of four students. Six are expected to receive additional government sponsorships for their education because of their test scores.

Some of the standouts from the class of 2016 include:

Rose achieved a government scholarship by attaining a remarkable composite grade on her KCSE.

She attended one of the most prestigious secondary schools in Kenya after scoring above average on her 8th-grade exam, the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education, a similar test structure to the KCSE but for 8th graders. Rose is finalizing her post-secondary plans. Steve and Judy Lewis sponsor Rose.

Francis excelled in KCSE, aiming for Jomo Kenyatta University to pursue veterinary studies after achieving an above-average grade. He learned about the field through Bimeda Veterinary Supply Company in Kenya, a close supporter, and friend of the organization. Andy and Heidi Walz sponsor Francis.

Timothy has been a strong leader in the class of 2016. At the leadership camp, he ignited a passion for leading. As class president, he nurtured and improved his leadership skills. In Kenya, the class president manages on-campus dorms, ensuring students complete tasks and chores, bearing substantial accountability.

Timothy’s KCSE grade was decent, not his ideal, yet he secured a government scholarship for environmental management studies. Francis and Maura Roby sponsor Timothy.

In September, once schools and programs have accepted students, sponsors of the Class of 2016 will receive finalized student plans.

May 24, 2017 By Lacey Kraft 1 Comment

Fulton Brewery with Six Still Standing to Help the Kids!

Do you enjoy the Fulton Brewery? Do you care about transforming lives through education in Kenya? Six Still Standing returns to the 2016 Annual Gathering to support youth programs.

Join Fulton Brewery on Sunday, June 4 from 3-5pm for local brews and “Sunday Music Series” featuring Six Still Standing. Band’s revenue and tips will be donated to Friends of Ngong Road, and a case of Fulton beer raffled. Fun to be had by all! Children are welcome. Invite a friend. See you there!

May 20, 2017 By Lacey Kraft Leave a Comment

Plister: Her Mother’s Dream of Sending her to College is Coming True!

Plister, sponsored by Marti Morfitt, was one of the first students to join the program in 2007. She lived with her mother together with her five siblings. To support the family, her mother did odd jobs when she was well enough. Plister’s mother dreamed of sending her children to college, but she knew it would not be possible. She was struggling to make enough money to feed and shelter her children, let alone pay for regular school fees.

Plister longed to go to school. She enjoyed spending time with friends, but her school friends advanced to new grades, while Plister remained behind.

Plister was accepted to the Friends of Ngong Road program along with two of her siblings, and life took a turn for the better for her and her family. Her mother said it was a huge relief that three of her children were being fed and educated through the program. It allowed her to provide food and clothing for her other children. It also allowed her to have hope that one day one of her children would make it to college and make a better life for their whole family. Today, Plister is on her way to making the dream possible.

Plister graduated in December 2016 from high school. Pursued a computer certificate course in post-secondary department, awaiting final grades release. Plister applied for a National Youth Service Cadet program, gaining entrepreneurial spirit and self-reliance principles. She received a six-month training program on technical, entrepreneurial, and paramilitary skills, making her more competitive in employment.

Plister is another example of a student using other skills gained through the program to make a way for herself. Our mission states that we provide children education and support “so they can transform their lives” in recognition of the fact that the program cannot do it for them. Friends of Ngong Road can only provide tools and training. True transformation is up to the individual, and Plister is a great example of that.

Plister will return to the post-secondary program after completing her Cadet training. The future is bright for her and her family. The future is bright for many of the children in our program with an investment from people like Marti who care about kids. Great going, Plister and Marti!

May 12, 2017 By Lacey Kraft Leave a Comment

Mama Joyce

By Barbara Krinke, Friends of Ngong Road Handicraft Volunteer

We left Nairobi on a newly constructed highway on a short trip to visit Ann (known to us as Mama Joyce, mother of Friends of Ngong Road student, Joyce). Mama Joyce, a skilled artisan, crafts exquisite handicrafts purchased by FoNR and retailed across the U.S., showcasing her talent.

Our trip was an adventure and her inspiring story deserves telling. Guided by Swahili written instructions, our Nairobi driver led us to exit the highway and follow a dirt road precisely. The only approach to the dirt road was an abrupt 3-foot drop-off from the highway, causing much scraping and screeching from the underside of our car.

The long ride to Mama Joyce’s house got worse the farther we drove, increasing my trepidation for the journey back to Nairobi.

We completed a slow, uphill 5-mile drive, encountering steep hills. Finally, after navigating through twists and turns, we reached Mama Joyce’s house via a short road. She met us at the turnoff with a smile and guided us on foot to her house. There we were introduced to Mama Joyce’s two goats and many chickens. Invited into her modest home, we explored her life, family, and crafts, gaining insights into her world and experiences.

Mama Joyce happily told us how much FoNR has meant to her and her family. Her daughter, Joyce, was a student in the FoNR program beginning in 2008 and is one of FoNR’s success stories. Joyce earned her hotel and catering diploma and at age 23, is now working at a restaurant outside of Nairobi

Mama Joyce emphasized the crucial role of FoNR, which covered Joyce’s education, supplies, shoes, uniforms, food, and healthcare expenses. Speaking in Swahili, she expressed her belief that despite her lack of education, her daughter’s schooling would improve her life. Mama Joyce shared that her handicrafts support her children, including an adult blind son. She sells them to FoNR.

A current hardship for her is the severe drought that is affecting Kenya and surrounding countries. On that 90-degree day, we drove through the countryside to Mama Joyce’s house and saw the dried-up corn stalks in the fields.

During our journey, we often cleared the dusty red soil that gusts carried into our vehicle, stinging our eyes.Mama Joyce shared that due to dried grazing, she must buy food for her goats—their usual forage has depleted.The goats and chickens, which supply her family with milk and eggs, are becoming an added expense to feed.

When we inquired about assisting her, Mama Joyce expressed a desire to increase sales for her handmade crafts. She elaborated on how the Nairobi artisan markets, along with the city, impose fees that make them quite costly. Transporting her handicrafts to the city is an expense in time and money, taking her away from family and her animals.

Our drive out to her home in the country was perilous in our hired car. Mama Joyce pays for motorcycle ride to the main highway, then pay for 1-2 buses to reach city. That is a commute that I would not want to have to make after our experience on this day!

Despite the obstacles Mama Joyce faced, her determination to provide for her family and her passion for her crafts left a lasting impression on us. We were inspired by her dedication and artistic talents.