I’ve spent the last few weeks reflecting on my trip to Kenya and my visit to the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation (NRCF). As a long-time donor and new Board member, I was thrilled to see our work up close.
Kenya’s beauty is striking and full of contrasts. On my first day, while hiking in the peaceful Ngong Road Forest Preserve, I glimpsed the massive Talenta Sports Stadium under construction nearby. The stadium sits right on busy Ngong Road near the NRCF offices in Dagoretti—a densely populated area of informal housing where many of our students live.
The road itself is a bustling river of life. It is packed with people selling everything from furniture to plants, alongside cars, music-blasting matatus (mini-buses), tuk-tuks, boda-bodas (motorcycles), and the occasional herd of goats.
The Power of Holistic Support
Against this vibrant backdrop, I witnessed the deep impact of NRCF’s wrap-around services. The organization supports students and families through a multi-layered approach:
- The Saturday Programme: A weekly haven where kids eat nutritious meals, attend educational sessions, and just have fun. I loved watching a hilarious balloon-popping relay race where the tiniest kids kept trying until they succeeded!
- Core Operations: I spent days learning from staff, visiting students’ homes, touring schools, and seeing our community health partnerships in action.
- Alumni Success: A major highlight was meeting 12 alumni now thriving as business consultants, entrepreneurs, software engineers, data analysts, marketers, and academic officers.
A Lifelong Sense of Community
When asked what they valued most, the alumni didn’t just mention financial aid. Instead, they spoke of the deep sense of community. NRCF provided friends, mentors, and case managers who stuck by them. Even as working adults, it remains the first place they go for answers.
They also had sharp questions for us about AI’s impact on their careers, global higher education, and entrepreneurship. Hearing their ambitions reminded me of a striking World Economic Forum forecast:
“By 2030, 40% of the world’s young people will be African. By 2050, Africa will account for 85% of the expected increase in the global working-age population… As these people enter the workforce and even build their own businesses, African countries must create the right conditions for them to thrive.”
Looking Ahead
My time in Kenya reinforced that NRCF’s long-term, holistic approach is exactly what is needed to help these youth thrive. We don’t just get them into school; we stay with them every step of the way, providing meals, healthcare, and life skills.
These students are the future of Africa. As a citizen of the world, I am honored to be a small part of their journey. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend a visit to Kenya—a beautiful country with beautiful people!