BUY A SCHOOL DESK AND LEAVE YOUR LEGACY IN TANZANIA

Help Bridge The Gap Tanzania supply desks to Qangded Primary School and Kalago Primary School.

Combine the power of education, helping less fortunate children, supporting the economy of a developing country and the opportunity to leave your philanthropic mark on this world and you get "Buy a desk - Leave your legacy in Tanzania!

For $100 Cdn. you can purchase a desk that seats three to four children. For an additional $15 Cdn. you can have a name plate engraved that will be affixed to the desk you purchase, creating your lasting legacy.

2011 Tanzania trip

The 2011 "Buy a desk and leave your legacy in Tanzania "campaign was a big success. For students in First World nations like Canada, there is little excitement in seeing new school desks but for the children of Kalago Primary and Qangded Primary schools in Tanzania, new desks meant no more sitting on dirt floors or overcrowding dilapidated desks.

Bridge The Gap Tanzania, through the generous sponsorships of friends and family, were able to deliver 50 desks to Kalago and 30 desks to Qangded. These desks were built in Arusha, Tanzania so not only did the schools benefit but Tanzanians employed at the wood working factory benefited, which in turn spread money into the local economy.

In addition to the desks, the Pardos brought more of the standard school supplies they have been bringing to these two schools over the past 7 years. More soccer balls, pens, pencils, mini chalk boards and more. Upon arriving in Arusha, one day before the first of the school visits, there was time made for one last shopping adventure where they bought sets of the latest primary school level text books and bags of rice for the lunch programs.

Check out the page of honour that shows the names of desk sponsors with links to photos of their desks if they chose a name plate.

How we started helping

In 2005, Carlos and Cindy Pardo went on a safari trip to Tanzania. It was to be their trip of a lifetime. They designed their safari itinerary to include visits to two rural primary schools. One was Kalago Primary School near Lake Victoria and the second, Qangded Primary School near Lake Eyasi. Both schools are badly underfunded yet serve over 700 pupils each.

On that first trip, they brought a limited amount of school supplies. The Pardos were so touched by the hospitality and the gratitude shown them for what Cindy and Carlos felt were modest gifts, that when they were on the flight home to Canada, they vowed to do more for these two schools.

The Pardos did return, in 2007, 2009 and 2011, bringing with them an ever increasing volume of school supplies (read more in the About Us page).

Now the goal for Bridge The Gap Tanzania is to meet the needs for new desks for Kalago and Qangdad schools. Kalago needs 100 new desks while Qangdad needs 70. The desks are being built in Tanzania, providing jobs and stimulating the local economy. The goal is to have all the desks purchased, built and delivered in time for the Pardos' next visit in May of 2013.

Hopefully you are visiting this website because you have an interest in helping to improve the lives of impoverished Tanzanian children. Improving their education is the foundation they require to give them a brighter future.

Number of desks purchased to date for 2013 trip: 2