We empower Nairobi children living in poverty to transform their lives through education and support, leading to employment.
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!
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. Plisterâs 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 âso they can transform their livesâ 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!
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 Joyceâs 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 FoNRâs 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 goatsâtheir 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.
Elisha was born in a rural area near the coast of Kenya where life was tough but his family was close. When he was 10, his father passed away.
Elisha moved in with his uncleâs family in Nairobi, while his brother moved to a city, six hours from Nairobi with a different uncle. His uncle’s profession was marked by its uncertainty, upon which he relied to provide for his own four children as well as Elisha. There was a shortage of food, and the availability of funds for school fees was even more limited.
In 2008, case managers from the newly launched Friends of Ngong Road/Ngong Road Childrenâs Foundation program visited Elishaâs school. It happened to be on a rare day that he was there with paid-up fees. His teachers advocated for his acceptance into the program and shared his story. Elisha was accepted, absolutely thrived in school, found friends in the program with similar backgrounds, and benefited greatly from the ongoing support of a case manager. Elisha said he no longer âfelt odd. I just fit in.â
A few years later, when Elisha’s mother passed away, he didn’t find himself isolated in handling the heart-wrenching loss. Instead, he had the continuing support of FoNR/NRCF. Today, Elisha is studying to be a civil engineer. He dreams of making Nairobi a better place that can compete globally. He is on the way to transforming his life, his familyâs lives, and the whole of Kenya.
Meghan and Evan Feige have long known about Friends of Ngong Road (FoNR). They grew up with Meg Meyer, the daughter of president and founder, Paula Meyer. They saw the work of Paula and the board and heard stories of childrenâs lives being transformed.
Last month, the Feiges took their experience with FoNR a step further. Requesting leave from their full-time jobs at Cargill and Target, they spent some time in Nairobi working with our recent high school graduates. They created and led a variety of workshops including personality styles, mock interviews, personal brand, emotional intelligence, and more. Meghan and Evan Feige stressed the importance of personal exploration through interactive activities, case studies, reflection, and dialogues. Such skills are not usually taught in schools in Kenya, but personal awareness and critical thinking abilities are imperative to studentsâ post-secondary experiences and their success in future careers.
We surveyed our recent high school graduates after the experience. The majority stated that it was one of the most valuable training sessions they had ever received and enthusiastically suggested conducting workshops for future graduates.
The Feiges enjoy seeking opportunities to learn about new cultures. The couple lived in Mexico City, where Meghan worked for Cargill. They saw poverty and injustice in Mexico and have seen similar inequities in their own community. But what they saw in Kenya was different. They knew the kids. There was trust among the families, who welcomed the Feiges into their homes. The students opened their hearts to welcome and teach them. The FoNR staff helped them better understand. They left the country with hope for the future and a new perspective on life.
Their experience continues to have an impact both in the U.S. and Kenya. Evan has worked with peers at Target to donate cases of professional clothing to our recent graduates who are applying for jobs. Our board and staff are working to ensure similar training workshops happen in the future. And, our high school graduates are more prepared than ever to reach their highest potential.
Thank you, Meghan and Evan, for partnering to transform lives!