Ngong Road Children's Foundation

We empower Nairobi children living in poverty to transform their lives through education and support, leading to employment.

A Joyful Saturday at Ngong Road Children’s Foundation

Last Saturday was a day filled with joy, laughter, and fun at the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation, where our children gathered for an exciting Saturday program. The day kicked off with an engaging icebreaker session led by our facilitator, setting the tone for an energetic and vibrant atmosphere.

After a delightful lunch break, the children immersed themselves in various club activities tailored to their passions. From artistic expressions in the art club to dynamic performances in the dance team and skillful moves in Taekwondo, every child had the opportunity to participate in something they love.

The highlight of the day was a special birthday celebration for one of our esteemed alumni, Fammy. She chose to mark her special day with our students, bringing cakes and snacks to share with everyone. Adding to the joy, Fammy was accompanied by her friends, who made generous donations that will go a long way in supporting our students.

To express gratitude, our students showcased heartfelt presentations featuring performances from the dancing team, Taekwondo demonstrations, and stunning artwork from the art club. The day concluded with sweet treats and snacks, fostering a deep sense of community and appreciation among all participants.

You too can make a difference in the lives of these children by supporting the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation. Your donations and sponsorships enable us to provide essential resources and opportunities for these children to thrive. Together, we can empower them to reach their full potential and build a brighter future.

DirectEd’s Introduction To Python: Coding Bootcamp

The DirectEd Development Foundation, in collaboration with the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation, is working to provide free training in software development to promising but under-resourced students in Africa. This initiative bridges the gap between high school and university, offering students an opportunity to explore the fascinating world of Python programming. The one-week introductory course is vital for students aspiring to join the main boot camp, ensuring they gain foundational knowledge through comprehensive lessons and a final exam.

Thirteen students from the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation registered for this rigorous course, competing alongside peers from esteemed institutions such as Alliance High School, Maryhill Girls High School, and Mang’u High School. Resource links, primarily hosted on Notion, were shared with the participants to facilitate their learning journey.

The program officially commenced on January 6, 2025, with an inaugural Zoom session. During this session, students received guidance on accessing course materials through platforms like Notion and Piazza and successfully installed Python on their desktop computers. The schedule included daily check-ins via Zoom, which served as a platform for tracking attendance, sharing updates, and conducting computer science workshops. Students accessed modules, videos, and feedback forms through Notion and submitted assignments via Tally forms.

Over the week, participants tackled eight modules comprising 44 exercises. These modules spanned topics such as Python setup, user input and conditional statements, data structures, functions, exceptions, libraries, unit testing, and object-oriented programming. The course also featured workshops, including a session on effective learning and time management led by Simon, the CEO of DirectEd Development Foundation, and another on online financial safety.

The course ended in an examination on January 13, 2025, which tested students through multiple-choice questions and programming tasks. Of the 13 registered students, 10 undertook the exam. The gender balance among participants was evenly distributed, with boys and girls each making up 50% of the cohort.

The week concluded with a virtual closing ceremony where students signed up for the DirectEd developer portal to access additional resources and complete surveys about their experience. DirectEd plans to run two more introductory courses before the main boot camp, which is set to begin in late April 2025. Successful candidates will be notified in early April, paving the way for their deeper engagement in software development training.

This initiative marks a significant step in empowering under-resourced students with valuable software development skills. By equipping them with foundational knowledge and fostering a competitive yet supportive learning environment, the program not only opens doors to future educational and professional opportunities but also inspires students to envision and pursue a brighter future in the tech industry. 

Join us in transforming the lives of underprivileged students. 

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Supporters This Festive Season!

In Kenya, the festive season is a time of vibrant celebration, but for some families facing challenges, it can remind them of their struggles. While many enjoy plenty of food and celebrations, vulnerable individuals often struggle to afford necessities. This situation reminds us how important it is to extend our support and kindness to these communities. This is especially crucial during the holiday season and beyond.

This year, we were able to do just that, making this festive season even more special through the heartfelt distribution of Christmas packages at our Annual General Meeting. We express our deep gratitude to our sponsors and donors and acknowledge the impact of their generosity on the children we support. We extend a special thank you to Braeburn School, Tile & Carpet Centre Ltd, and Kim-Fay East Africa Limited. Their generous donations made this year’s Christmas packages possible.

These organizations donated essential items for the packages. Braeburn School donated 150 packages while Kim-Fay East Africa Limited donated 50 bales of maize flour. Tile & Carpet Centre Ltd generously provided 150 packages and additional maize flour, wheat flour, and cooking oil. Thanks to their support, we offered packages filled with food and essential items to the families of the children we support. We helped them celebrate the holidays and create cherished memories. One grateful parent expressed with heartfelt emotion, “Thank you so much NRCF, this means the world to us. Now I have something to make this Christmas a truly special time for my children.”

In addition to the Christmas package distribution, the AGM was an exciting and engaging event. We shared important updates with parents and NRCF students, celebrating the progress and achievements of the year. We also proudly recognized and awarded our best-performing students, acknowledging their hard work and dedication.

The day was brightened by lively presentations of arts, crafts, and dance, which showcased the amazing talents of our children. A special highlight was a performance by Kipaji Kids who entertained everyone with their fun and inspiring dance routines. The AGM was a great success, allowing us to reflect on the year’s achievements and look forward to the exciting work ahead.

Please consider donating to support the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation. Together, we can transform the lives of vulnerable children.

NRCF STEM Camp 2024: Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators

The NRCF STEM Camp 2024 was a transformative, two-week journey that introduced 7th and 8th-grade students to the dynamic world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Hosted at the NRCF Elimu Hub Center in partnership with Science Mill and Friends of Ngong Road, the camp aimed to inspire curiosity, nurture problem-solving skills, and open doors to exciting career opportunities in STEM.

A Two-Week Overview

Week 1: Biomimicry-Inspired Projects (Grade 7)
 Students explored biomimicry, applying nature’s designs to solve real-world challenges. Projects included:

  • Smart Bin: An accessible, touch-free bin inspired by animal reflexes.
  • Rescue Kingfisher: A robotic bird for underwater rescue operations.
  • Jitterbug: A stress-relieving device modeled after a butterfly.

Week 2: Biomimicry-Inspired Projects (Grade 8)
 Building on the previous week, Grade 8 students tackled advanced challenges with bio-inspired engineering. Highlights included:

  • Whale Robot: A water-cleaning robot based on a whale’s filtration system.
  • Security Sunflower: A solar-powered motion-sensing camera system.
  • Anglerfish Vessel: A deep-sea exploration vessel mimicking the anglerfish’s bioluminescence.

Hands-On Learning and STEM Career Exploration

Throughout the camp, students engaged in interactive lessons and activities designed to bridge the gap between classroom concepts and real-world applications:

  • Robotics and Coding: Using Micro: bit and Hummingbird kits, students created “battle bots” and tackled engineering challenges.
  • Renewable Energy: Teams designed wind turbines and explored careers in energy engineering.
  • Food Science: Activities like making edible water balls and ice cream highlighted the intersection of science, creativity, and technology.

Career discussions introduced participants to diverse fields, from molecular gastronomy and robotics to ecology and renewable energy, igniting aspirations for future STEM roles.

Graduation Celebration

The camp concluded with a memorable graduation ceremony, celebrating the participants’ creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

  • Project Presentations: Students showcased their biomimicry-inspired projects to an impressed audience of peers, facilitators, and guests.
  • Certificates of Achievement: Each participant received a personalized certificate, recognizing their dedication and accomplishments.
  • A Sweet Finale: The event ended with a celebratory cake-cutting, leaving students with lasting memories of their STEM journey.

The NRCF STEM Camp 2024 was a resounding success, empowering 73 young minds with STEM knowledge, creativity, and confidence. This achievement would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our partners, facilitators, and volunteers.

We aim to expand the program to reach more students, incorporating diverse venues like research centers and nature reserves to enhance hands-on learning experiences. We extend our deepest gratitude to our sponsors, donors, and partners, including the Science Mill and Friends of Ngong Road, whose generous support made this camp possible. Your contributions empowered these young minds to explore their potential and inspired a new generation of problem-solvers and innovators. A special thank you to the facilitators, mentors, and volunteers whose dedication ensured the program’s success. Together, we can continue to spark innovation and inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers.

NRCF Career Workshop

The NRCF Career Workshop, held on November 5th, 6th, and 11th, 2024, was a dynamic and impactful event that brought together students, speakers, and facilitators to explore career opportunities and life skills. The workshop’s success was attributed to excellent support from the office and the enthusiastic participation of students across all forms.

Students were introduced to strategies for discovering their passions and potential career paths. Emphasis was placed on innovation, situational awareness, and understanding personality traits through prior personality tests. Many students expressed interest in multiple careers, showing less focus on traditional professions like law, health, education, engineering, and IT.

The workshop featured notable speakers who shared valuable insights and personal experiences:

  • Joel Powon (ABSA SME Regional Manager) stressed the importance of work ethics and networking.
  • Ann Maina (Agile Coach, Safaricom) advocated for an agile approach to career planning and provided an analogy to help students identify opportunities and manage risks.
  • Ian King (Entrepreneur) shared his personal journey and donated four impactful books which had a profound impact on his career trajectory and his relationship with money.
  • Winfred Nyokabi (NOMADIT Events) highlighted the growing significance of remote work, resilience, and IT skills.
  • Dr. Sandra Sebitosi-van Jaarsveld (Entrepreneur, Pretoria) shared strategies for balancing work and life while navigating challenges in a foreign country.
  • Dr. Diana Abuodha (Medical Services Manager, Avenue Healthcare) discussed healthcare opportunities and her academic improvement journey through better study habits.
  • Grace Kamau (HR Business Partner, Save the Children) encouraged adaptability and openness to change in the evolving workforce.
  • Epher Wanambisi (Nurse, Barnes Jewish Hospital) shared experiences in nursing and emphasized the diverse opportunities within the field.
  • Ann Njeri spoke about the value of character, resilience, and meaningful friendships in achieving one’s dreams.
  • Dr. Josephine Muiru (Pharmaceutical Industry) detailed her career transition from clinical practice to pharmaceuticals, outlining the risks and rewards.
  • John Smith (Aviation Engineer) addressed substance abuse challenges in fast-paced careers, particularly in the aviation industry.
  • Nkatha Omondi (Lawyer) provided an overview of various legal career paths and opportunities.

The students explored concepts like Ikigai, which encourages people to discover what truly matters to them and live a life filled with purpose and joy, career duality, and the distinctions between jobs, careers, and callings. They also engaged in activities and discussions tailored to their age and academic levels, enhancing their understanding of career planning and personal growth. 

This enriching experience left participants motivated, equipped with actionable insights, and prepared to navigate their future career journeys. We strive to continue having initiatives that will transform the live of our students.