Ngong Road Children's Foundation

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

Ngong Road Children’s Foundation Participation in the 4th Annual Youth Climate Summit and Festival

The Ngong Road Children’s Foundation (NRCF) recently had the privilege of participating in the 4th Annual Youth Climate Summit and Festival, a two-day event organized by the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). This event aimed to engage and empower Africa’s youth population to take meaningful action on climate change. The summit featured a range of objectives, including amplifying the voices of communities, highlighting young people as climate resilience ambassadors, and strategically developing pathways to influence sustainable climate change and development through collaboration with government agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, and other industry players.

One of the highlights of our participation in this important summit was the involvement of our very own Employment Programs Officer, Martha Atieno, who is also an alumna of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). Martha had the honor of being one of the panelists in discussions centered around the role of youth in addressing climate change. Her insights and expertise added a valuable perspective to the dialogue and emphasized the importance of involving young leaders in the fight against climate change.

Additionally, NRCF had the opportunity to be among the exhibitors at the event, where we showcased our organization’s mission to empower and transform lives through education. Our presence at the summit allowed us to connect with attendees, share information through brochures, and exchange ideas with those interested in supporting our mission. We were heartened to see the enthusiasm and interest of attendees at the summit who were eager to support our cause. Some individuals expressed a willingness to donate and contribute to our mission. To facilitate this support, we provided them with the necessary means to make contributions. We also emphasized the importance of collaboration in tackling climate change and its interconnected challenges, including education and poverty alleviation. We hope that this engagement will lead to lasting partnerships and increased support for our initiatives.

Participating in the 4th Annual Youth Climate Summit and Festival was a significant milestone for the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation. It provided us with a platform to engage with like-minded organizations, share our mission, and garner support for our educational initiatives. The event also allowed us to contribute to important discussions on climate change and youth empowerment. We are committed to building on these connections and collaborations to further our mission of empowering and transforming lives through education, while also actively participating in the global effort to combat climate change.

Risper’s Journey and Future Aspirations

My name is Risper, and I’m currently a dedicated form 4 candidate at St. Angela’s Girls High School. The journey I’ve undertaken to reach this point has been filled with challenges, but my determination and the support I have received have shaped me into who I am today. I reside in the humble area of Kawangware, alongside my loving parents and two wonderful siblings. Growing up, life presented its difficulties, and my parents faced the tough reality of not being able to afford my school fees. Consequently, there were instances where I was sent back home due to unpaid fees. Those were difficult times for me and my family, and it seemed like a dream to pursue education without financial constraints.

However, a turning point in my life came in 2014 when I was in grade 3. I had the privilege of joining Ngong Road Children’s Foundation (NRCF), and from that moment, my educational journey took a positive turn. I was fortunate enough to enroll in Jagiet Academy, where I completed my primary education in 2019. The door to a brighter future was opened wider when I gained admission to St. Angela’s Girls High School in 2020.

Beyond academics, I’ve discovered my passion for sports and arts. Volleyball has become a significant part of my life, allowing me to learn valuable life skills while keeping physically active. Additionally, I’ve found immense joy in expressing myself through dance, which led me to become a part of the school’s dance group.

Currently, my focus is on preparing for the upcoming Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations scheduled for November. My goal is to achieve a B- grade, reflecting the dedication and hard work I’ve put into my studies. Looking ahead, I have aspirations of joining Dedan Kimathi University to pursue a course in journalism. My admiration for news anchor Jeff Koinange has fueled this interest, and I aspire to follow in his footsteps and make a meaningful impact through storytelling.

Furthermore, I have a strong desire to give back to my community through social work. I envision engaging in social work as a part-time endeavor, as I believe in the power of contributing positively to the lives of others.

None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of my sponsors, Mike and Leah Switzer. Their generous sponsorship has not only allowed me to pursue my education but has also instilled in me a deep sense of gratitude. Additionally, I’m immensely thankful to the NRCF program for stepping into my life and making a lasting, positive impact.

Transform a child’s life today.

Raymond, the Certified Full-Stack Developer

Raymond receiving his certificate at the graduation ceremony

My name is Raymond and I embarked on my transformational journey when I joined the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation (NRCF) in 2014. Back then, I was a student in grade 4 and I was really happy to become a part of NRCF and start my empowering journey in education. I joined Jagiet Academy where I completed my primary education in 2018. After primary school, I transitioned to Makwa Boys High School in Thika. This is where my passion for Computer Science began.

This newfound passion made me reconsider my childhood dream of becoming a doctor. Upon completion of my high school studies in 2022, I was eager to pursue a career in Software Engineering. In January 2023, I started my computer package training offered by Belmont College through the program. In April, NRCF got into a partnership with DirectEd Development Foundation where we, the high school graduates, would be trained in coding and developer skills. I was excited about this partnership as I knew that it was exactly what I wanted to pursue. 

Through my time learning from DirectEd tutors, I underwent a series of modules, each contributing to my growth. However, it was the final module that truly put my skills to the test. The task was to create an individual app project that could be used to solve real-world problems. My project was termed the “Terminal” and it was a messaging app aimed to provide a platform for seamless communication. Despite the extensive knowledge I had gained, I still needed to bridge some gaps. In order to bridge these gaps, I embarked on another course to learn about socket.io, a technology that facilitates real-time and bidirectional communication between web clients. 

Armed with this newfound knowledge, I returned to my project to enhance it. The results were impressive as the “Terminal” stood out as one of the best projects in the class, receiving a score of 60 out of 75. After all the learning, I finally secured merit in Full-Stack Development. During the graduation ceremony held on the 16th of August for the 1st cohort of graduates from the DirectEd coding program, I was honored to have received my certificate. 

I am grateful for the support from NRCF and for the learning at DirectEd that has propelled me towards my goal. Looking ahead, I am excited to continue building my skills, exploring new avenues in software development, and contributing to the ever-evolving world of technology.

Transform a life today.

DirectEd Coding Programme Graduation

In a significant effort to bridge the tech gap and equip students with coding skills, the Ngong Road Children’s Foundation partnered with the DirectEd Development Foundation in April 2023 to offer coding training for high school graduates. This partnership aimed to empower the graduates with coding proficiency, opening doors to a world of opportunities in the ever-evolving tech industry. The program has been taking place for the last few months and was divided into three progressively intensive parts. 

Our students were making use of the Elimu Hub for the use of computers to access learning materials and carry out personal learning. Throughout their learning journey, they undertook a comprehensive curriculum comprised of five modules. These modules encompassed a diverse range of coding concepts and principles, and in the final module, the students were expected to each develop individual projects where they were to create innovative apps designed to address real-life problems.

After the completion of the program, a graduation ceremony was held on the 16th of August at Kenyatta University to recognize the participant’s remarkable achievements. Among those present were students not only from NRCF but also from partner schools, including Kagumo Boys High School, Mang’u Boys High School, and Maryhill Girls High School. The event was graced by distinguished speakers who lent their wisdom. Izzat Begum, a member of the Board of Trustees at DirectEd, articulated the importance of fostering girls’ empowerment within the tech space. Shahaf Bar-Geffen, the CEO of COTI, was the keynote speaker, and he offered perspectives on navigating the tech landscape. Simon, the CEO of DirectEd, also offered a brief speech. Our Programs Director, Kelvin Thuku was also in attendance. The students were then given their certificates with different levels of recognition to mark their successful completion of the program and become the first cohort graduates of this great initiative from the DirectEd Development Foundation. 

Armed with skills in front-end and full-stack development, we have no doubt that our students will leave an unerasable mark in the tech space. We are entirely grateful to DirectEd Development Foundation for equipping our students with these skills. We would also love to show appreciation to the Cardano Community especially those that sponsored our students through this program. We are extremely proud of our graduates for working hard and attaining this recognition. 

The Empowerment Story of Hellen

My name is Hellen, and I am a proud alumni of Ngong Road Children’s Foundation. Before moving on to high school, I attended one of Ngong Road Children’s Foundation’s targeted elementary schools, where I established the groundwork for my academic quest.

During my four years in high school, I not only strived to excel academically but also began to nurture my talents and passions. I participated in high jump competitions and marathons and joined the environmental club, where I developed an appreciation for nature. After my high school graduation, I joined the Institute of Advanced Technology where I pursued Business Administration and Management.

I did my apprenticeship at the Kenyatta National Hospital, where I served as an administrator. My effort and passion to work were recognized, and I was recruited as a personal assistant.

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I love what I do as I get to put my management skills into use and I get the opportunity to interact with different professions and grow my network. I am now able to support myself and my family with this job.

I am grateful to the program for empowering me through quality education and well-being. As I set higher goals for myself in the future, I acknowledge the vital impact that the program has had in shaping me into the woman I am today, and I will be forever indebted.

Transform a life today.