The Donations for Education fundraiser was started by Mr. Figueroa, Prep’s AP United States History 2 and AP Human Geography teacher, to benefit students of the Tloma Primary School in Karatu, Tanzania.
After a visit to Kenya and Tanzania in Africa last summer, Mr. Figueroa was touched and deeply motivated to help students who lacked basic school necessities such as notebooks, writing utensils, folders, and more. With the implementation of this project, Prep students have already begun making a difference to help students in need. In an interview, Mr. Figueroa explained the impact of this project and future endeavors related to the mission.
The Boulevard Online: What inspired you to start the Donations for Education project?
Mr. Figueroa: In August of 2025, I had the opportunity to travel to Kenya and Tanzania. While there I was able to spend some time at the Tloma Primary School in Karatu, Tanzania. What I found concerning was that there were 817 students from ages 4 to 12 and they only had 12 teachers and barely any supplies. With the lack of supplies (especially paper and pencils), it was nearly impossible to get things completed and to see students’ progress. I watched students learn math outside, adding and subtracting in the dirt; the ground was their version of a chalkboard. I was assigned a 6th grade class, and I had 71 students crammed into one classroom. On average, three students sat at one desk and, because classrooms were limited, students rotated in and out of classrooms approximately every two hours. What I found very interesting was that the students play a huge part in the day-to-day function of the school. Students grow their own food on an adjacent farm; students build and repair their own desk;, and at the end of the day, students clean their entire school.
TBO: How long has the project been running, and which regions or schools in Africa are you currently supporting?
Mr. Figueroa: The Donations for Education project began on January 1, 2026, and will end on January 31, 2026. If it is successful, we may continue this as a service project for years to come. We would still support the Tloma Primary School in Tanzania.
TBO: What kind of needs do the schools have most? Books, uniforms, technology, or something else?
Mr. Figueroa: The Tloma Primary School severely lacks any supplies. Books are extremely limited; technology is completely non-existent, and basic supplies are not readily available. The school is in desperate need of the most basic supplies: paper, pens, pencils, rulers, markers, glue, etc. We have a QR code available to see a list of the supplies that are needed. Students do wear uniforms and monetary donations help with this but we are only helping with school supplies.
TBO: How do you measure the impact of the donations on students’ education?
Mr. Figueroa: I am going to reverse the question back on you: What impact do you think you would have faced if your school lacked books, paper and a pencil? In elementary school, would you have been able to learn to read and write?
TBO: How can individuals or organizations donate to the project?
Mr. Figueroa: Each morning students from the Student Council promote the Donations for Education service project by the main entrance. Students, faculty and community members can drop off school supplies at that time or they can drop them off in Room 111 during the day. This service project is open to everyone who would like to help out. You do not have to be a member of the Student Council to participate.
TBO: What are some of the biggest challenges you face in running this project?
Mr. Figueroa: The biggest challenge we will face will be shipping the school supplies to Karatu, Tanzania. As you may know, the more school supplies we send, the more it will cost.
TBO: What is your long-term vision for improving education in these schools?
Mr. Figueroa: This question, someone could write a book about as a long-term vision for improving education is extremely multifactorial. In short, I think of the saying, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” “Give a kid a book and you feed a mind for a lifetime.” I think to start, this is a long-term vision.
