Friends of Ngong Road

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

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Dan’s Nairobi Visit: 20 Years of Potential and Opportunity

On Ngong Road a city moves—matatus and motorbikes, students and shopkeepers, the everyday rhythm of a Tuesday morning in a city of six million. Everywhere in that city abuzz you find potential and opportunity searching for each other. For twenty years now, bringing them together has been our core mission at Friends of Ngong Road.

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of seeing that work up close alongside travel companions Leslie, Anne, Naomi, and Keith. What we found was momentum: in the way our team moves, in the way our students carry themselves, and in our 2026 pilot program, which launched 100 new students into our community this year alone.

Celebrating 20 Years of Momentum

We felt that the momentum most around shared tables. On Saturday evening, nearly forty staff, board members, and volunteers gathered for a 20th anniversary dinner. The celebration continued cheerfully, even after a local power outage kept us in the dark for more than hour!

From there, the week shifted into our primary programming:

  • School Visits: We toured the new Lenana WorldComp campus and visited Kahuho Road Academy, which together educate roughly 100 of our students.
  • Hands-on Learning: We observed life skills and mental health classes and spent time at Elimu Hub, where students explored 3D printing and robotics.
  • Alumni Success: Our alumni team hosted a panel with twelve graduates, showcasing the long-term impact of our work.

Expansion and Technology

The week was a whirlwind of activity across Nairobi and beyond. While Leslie and Naomi traveled to Lake Naivasha for a post-secondary student camp, Keith worked with our team on critical technology improvements. Anne spent valuable time with case managers and leadership to ensure our operations remain student-focused.

These efforts are backed by the incredible data from our April impact update:

  • 380+ active students currently in the program.
  • 100 new students were welcomed in the largest expansion in our history.
  • Thousands of meals provided and hundreds of hours of life-changing programming delivered.

Partnerships for the Future

Our work does not happen in isolation. We were graciously hosted by partners across Nairobi, including the KCB Foundation, the Kenya Community Development Foundation, CFK Africa, and Kenya Works.

During our meetings, including a session with our new Nairobi fundraising hire, Emily, we focused on one central question: What does it take to close the gap between potential and opportunity at scale for another twenty years?

A Quiet Confidence

I returned home reflecting on the faces of our students, alumni, and team. I saw determination, resilience, and a quiet confidence that what we are building together actually works.

Deep thanks go to Kelvin and the entire NRCF staff, our boards, our volunteers, and every donor who made this trip possible.

Watch the video of our time in Kenya below, and read our full April impact update at impact.ngongroad.org.

Thank you for being a Friend,

Dan

President
Friends of Ngong Road

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Here We Go! Empowering 1,000 Children by 2030

The Ngong Road Children’s Foundation (NRCF) has launched an ambitious mission: to provide education and holistic care to 1,000 children by 2030. Our vision is to eliminate our waiting list, ensuring that every child in our community has a clear path to a brighter future.

This journey is already gaining momentum. For 2026, our goal is to onboard 100 new students, and we are proud to announce that the first 50 children were welcomed this January under our “Here We Go” campaign.

Onboarding is only the beginning. To ensure these children stay in school and truly thrive, sustained support is essential. We invite our community to partner with us through:

  • Sponsorships: Providing the daily essentials for a student’s success.
  • Scholarships: Securing long-term educational opportunities.
  • Donations: Funding the holistic care—including nutrition and social support—that allows a child to focus on their studies.

Together, we can transform lives—one child at a time. Join the “Here We Go” movement and help us reach our 2030 goal.

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One of Minnesota’s Largest Foundations Supports Our Work

Friends of Ngong Road (FoNR) is honored to announce a $200,000 grant from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies (MACP) in support of organizational capacity building. This generous support marks a meaningful milestone in our nearly twenty-year journey to empower children in Nairobi’s informal settlements through education, support, and opportunity.

MACP, one of the nation’s largest private philanthropies, is guided by a clear vision: to make a meaningful difference in the world through support for work in communities, the environment, arts and culture, disaster relief, and quality of life. Their support of Friends of Ngong Road affirms both the importance of our mission and the promise of our next chapter of growth.

For Friends, capacity building means strengthening the systems, infrastructure, and leadership that make our student-centered model sustainable. It’s the kind of support that helps us develop momentum while we build—ensuring that as we expand access to education, healthcare, and employment pathways, we do so with stability and sustainability.

This is the first time Friends of Ngong Road has received funding from a major institutional foundation, and it signals growing recognition of our proven results. Since 2006, Friends has served hundreds of students, and nearly three-quarters of our alumni are now employed. That track record—and the resilience of our students and staff—has created both measurable outcomes and deep, community-based change.

We are deeply grateful to Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies for believing in our mission and helping to strengthen its foundation. Their partnership represents not only a financial commitment but a powerful vote of confidence in what Friends of Ngong Road stands for: that every child, no matter where they begin, deserves the chance to learn, grow, and thrive.