2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017

After the death of a friend due to cancer, Carlos and Cindy Pardo came to the conclusion that life was too short so they should live life to its fullest and pursue their dreams. In January 2005, Carlos and Cindy began planning their trip of a lifetime, a safari in Tanzania. Being that this would be their one chance to see the famous animals of the Serengeti and experience the people and culture of Tanzania, Carlos and Cindy decided to change the standard safari itinerary and include some extra special activities. Among these, a hike of Empakai crater with a Massai warrior, a hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti, and visits to two primary schools.

2005 2005 The first trip. After the death of a friend due to cancer, Carlos and Cindy Pardo came to the conclusion that life was too short so they should live life to its fullest and pursue their dreams. In January 2005, Carlos and Cindy began planning their trip of a lifetime, a safari in Tanzania. Being that this would be their one chance to see the famous animals of the Serengeti and experience the people and culture of Tanzania, Carlos and Cindy decided to change the standard safari itinerary and include some extra special activities. Among these, a hike of Empakai crater with a Massai warrior, a hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti, and visits to two primary schools. As the May 2005 trip drew near, the Pardos thought it would be a nice gesture to bring a few gifts to the schools. The gifts included two soccer balls per school and a few hundred pens and pencils. The two schools chosen by the safari company were Kalago Primary and Qangded Primary. Carlos and Cindy were touched by the expression of joy from the teachers and students for having strangers interested enough to visit them. The Pardos were also quite moved by the genuine gratitude for what seemed to them to be modest gifts. Their other main observation was that both schools were sadly lacking books, teaching aids, school supplies, desks and general infrastructure. On the flight back to Calgary, Canada, the Pardos promised themselves that if they could afford to return to Tanzania, they would do more for the children of Kalago and Qangded.

2007 January of 2007 saw the Pardos begin planning for their second trip! An interesting thing happened though. As they told friends and family that they were going again and that this time they were going to step up the amount of school supplies they'd bring, friends and family contributed without even being asked. By May of 2007 when Carlos and Cindy returned to the schools, they had over $4,000 of pens, pencils, erasers, soccer balls, skipping ropes, chalk, chalk brushes, solar calculators, staplers and staples. Not only were their suitcases jammed full with supplies but they had to buy large plastic container bins and pay for them as extra baggage! Part of the success of that 2nd trip came from a partnership developed with a Calgary elementary school, John Costello Catholic School. The son and daughter of a friend of Carlos and Cindy's attended the school. Through their friend, Carlos and Cindy were asked to make a presentation to the students regarding the plight of Qangded and Kalago Primary schools. It became a project for the students of John Costello to raise funds and purchase needed school supplies. The Head Masters, teachers, and students at Kalago and Qangded were overwhelmed with joy upon receiving so many supplies, that the Pardos committed to continuing their support. That initial "trip of a lifetime" back in 2005 had now become an every two year project to improve the educational environment at these two schools. 2009 Planning for the 2009 trip spurred some exciting changes. "Bridge The Gap Tanzania" was registered as the name for the ongoing project. It symbolizes the challenge in bridging the gap between education in first world nations such as Canada and education in Tanzania. The next big development prior to the 2009 trip was the creation of a website thanks to the volunteer efforts of Calgary web designer Fusion Creations Inc.

The third major accomplishment was the cementing of the relationship between the Pardos and their "man on the ground" in Tanzania. Fadhili Martin has been their safari driver for all of their trips but, past that, Fadhili has been their liaison between Bridge The Gap Tanzania and the schools. Communication with the schools is challenging not only because of a lack of technology, power, and telecommunication infrastructure but also due to the language barrier. Fadhili has been instrumental in solving issues, arranging school visits and dealing with local companies. He is our "rafiki" (Swahili for "friend"). With all these changes, the project grew bigger than ever. More people and organizations jumped onboard.

In addition to school supplies such as more pens and pencils, soccer balls and calculators, a decision was made to collect books and ship them over. English is a second language that Tanzanian children are taught as early as primary school. Kalago School has no library and, although Qangded has one, it is woefully short of books. Thanks in large part to the students of John Costello and friends and family, the Pardos gathered in excess of 3,600 books including one full encyclopedia set for each school. Encyclopedias are a thing of the past in Canada but what wonderful sources of knowledge for the children of Kalago and Qangded. English dictionaries and Swahili/English English/Swahili dictionaries were also considered as prized donations to the schools.

Bridge The Gap Tanzania did not stop at books and school supplies. Another ambition was to provide solar powered lighting for the schools and for the teachers' residences. Both schools have no source of electricity. This goal was met thanks to the more than generous donations and assistance from Add Your Light, an organization in Calgary that developed a solar panel lighting system. They have installed numerous units in Central America. May of 2009 saw Bridge The Gap Tanzania arrive in Tanzania with over 1000 kilos of books, school supplies and solar panel lighting systems, totalling over $15,000. Cindy declared "The experience was better than Christmas" when they arrived at each school with all the goodies! All the stresses of dealing with shipping and getting the goods cleared through Customs was put aside when Carlos and Cindy were received once more by the students and teachers of Kalago and Qangded. The children singing to Cindy and Carlos were once more the most emotional moments of each visit. Taking stock at the end of the 2009 trip, the Pardos noted that $3,000 of funds raised went to pay for shipping and $2,000 went to pay duties. That was $5,000 that went into the pockets of the wrong people Plus, the stresses of shipping and clearing Customs took its toll on them. It is important to note that not one dollar of funds donated has gone to travel costs for Carlos and Cindy. All funds are directed 100% to the purchase of supplies or shipping and customs duties. There had to be a better way to help the children of Kalago and Qangded schools.

Thus was born the "Buy a desk and leave your legacy in Tanzania" program.

2011

The 2011 "Buy a desk and leave your legacy in Tanzania" campaign was a big success. 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.

Wood working shop where desks were built

Fadhili and Carlos buying new text books

Qangded was the first school the Pardos visited. They were unprepared for the reception they would receive. The desks arrived the day before the Pardos. The teachers cleared out a classroom and stored all the new desks in it, preventing the pupils from using them until the Pardos' arrival.

Datoga Tribe women Solar lighting in library Students affixing name plates Cindy and Carlos making speeches to students

News about the desks must have spread quickly because it seemed like the whole village was present, including 4 Datoga women who made a long trek to be there. A special celebratory lunch was prepared and speeches were given by important officials. David Maragu Bargeda, the teacher who speaks the best English, was our guide for the tour of the school. He was very proud to show us the library where they had installed some of the solar panel lighting systems from our 2009 trip. Unfortunately, the majority of the lighting systems had been stolen which was our only disappointment. Our biggest thrill though, was the unveiling of the new desks and the joy of the children realizing they no longer had to sit on unforgiving rocks on the floor. We had brought the nameplates for the desks and handed them to students to affix them onto the desks. It was very gratifying to the Pardos that Part 1 of the desk project had been accomplished successfully. Many of these nameplates represented loved ones either those who have passed away or children with bright futures ahead of them. Legacies were left in Tanzania. After a week long safari we arrived at our second school Kalago to find that they too had received the desks the day before and hid them away in a classroom until we arrived. The unveiling of the new desks was just as it had been at the previous school with lots of excitement and fanfare. Once again, children were given name plates to affix to the desks. Our tour guide for the Kalago school was John Lashingi, the headmaster, who had broken his jaw in a motorcycle accident only one week before our arrival. There were surprises both good and bad. We were very pleased to see that a fresh water well had been installed and paid for by an American company since our last trip but we were upset to find out that all of the solar panel lighting systems that we had brought them in 2009 had been stolen and one of their classrooms had been quarantined due to a bee infestation. With only 8 classrooms, losing one was a real hardship. As per previous trips, all the children had gathered around Cindy and Carlos to sing welcome songs to them. At Kalago just as they had done in Qangded, Carlos and Cindy gave a speech to the children in Swahili which they had prepared back in Calgary thanks to the assistance of their Tanzanian friend Mansur Fazal. The 2011 trip proved to be a major success. Not only did the schools receive some badly needed desks and Tanzanians were paid for their hard work but our friends and family back in Calgary were able to feel the satisfaction of leaving their legacy and making an impact on those less fortunate.

2013

The 2013 "Buy a desk and leave your legacy in Tanzania" campaign reached new heights. Not only were 77 desks built and delivered to Kalago Primary (48 desks) and Qangded Primary (29 desks), it saw Bridge The Gap Tanzania become international. In addition to friends from Canada donating, friends from the United States jumped onboard sponsoring desks. We also expanded past family and friends and had philanthropic strangers join our efforts thanks to visits to the website and word of mouth. Cindy and Carlos were very touched to know that there are others in the world wanting to make a positive difference for children in Tanzania.

Earth Ball

In the assortment of supplies brought with Carlos & Cindy this time were 4 microscope sets and NASA inspired inflatable balls that depict planet earth . It was fun and educational. Again, Cindy & Carlos took time to purchase hundreds of dollars worth of the latest primary school text books. Always a welcome gift for the teachers even if the children get more excited over the latest supply of new soccer balls!

Dancing with students Adorned in Datoga clothing

Qangded Primary had a very special day planned for the Pardos' visit. It started with a parade to escort them from the main road to the school. It was a joyous day filled with special songs, dancing, theater and a big lunch with community leaders. All had been planned and rehearsed well in advance of the visit. The Pardos were quite humbled by it all, especially when they were adorned with special clothing of the Datoga people and welcomed into the tribe . The Pardos were also very happy to find out that they had been mistaken on the state of the solar panel lighting systems delivered back in the 2009 trip. We had thought that all but the lighting systems in the library had been stolen. It turns out that the rest were installed in the teachers' housing affording them a source of light during the night. Please take the time to read this letter from Qangded School.

The visit to Kalago School was a bit lower key but just as rewarding. Upon arrival, a tour of the facilities was conducted by the new head master. Conditions continue to degrade quickly here and although the teaching staff understand our main focus is providing new desks and school supplies, they hope Bridge The Gap Tanzania can address their other issues sometime down the road. Of pressing need are new latrines and cementing some classroom floors. Please take the time to read this letter from Kalago School.

Dirt floor in Kalago classroom

Each school visit included a photography session where photos were taken of every desk that had a name plate. Be sure to visit the Recognition page to find links to all purchased desks with name plates.

2013 saw 77 more legacies that will last for years to come.

2015

Due to a major life change for the Pardo's just before the planned trip to the schools, Bridge The Gap Tanzania will now be championed by Carlos with lots of help from friends and family.

The positive news is that 78 desks were built and delivered but the trip was cancelled.

2017

This was the most successful campaign to date. So much so, both Qangded and Kalago have enough desks for their classrooms! The big problem is that they do not have enough classrooms. More about that in future updates.

Thank you so much to all who sponsored 93 desks! The desk campaign goes on hold until new classrooms are ready for new desks. The desk campaign closes for now having built 348 desks for the 2 schools.

Carlos with friends Peter-Mark, Ronni, Diane, Kim and Jason, were treated like royalty when they visited the schools in May, 2017. However, the highlight for all was the reaction of the children when sets of soccer uniforms were presented. It was a special moment at each school.

 

 

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