Our Goal

PTC plans to fund several humanitarian projects in Tanzania through this year’s Group Fundraiser in partnership with Embrace Relief. These include:

• Opening a water well, providing access to safe drinking water to a community;
• Delivering food to children in need
• Visiting and refurbishing a school

These projects will help address the most basic necessities for people in Kenya living in poverty. Additionally, if they so choose, PTC students will have the opportunity to travel to Kenya in the spring of 2025 to implement these programs firsthand and meet some of the people who will benefit from their efforts.

PTC’s Growing Tradition of Giving Back

In 2023, Pathway to College raised $10,000 to support children in Kenya by providing food for orphanages and opening a water well at a school. However, this was not only a fundraising drive: students from PTC also had the unique opportunity to travel to Kenya and meet the children they supported face-to-face. The experience allowed our students to gain a new perspective, and it was truly a life-changing experience for the students, teachers, and chaperones who took part.

We believe that students who travel abroad as part of our Group Fundraiser will return with a deeper understanding that our common humanity connects all people everywhere and that we all need to work together to ensure that we all have a chance to live a full, healthy, and happy life. In other words: we want our students to put their empathy into action and become the philanthropists of tomorrow!

I would definitely recommend Embrace Relief to other schools because it brings a lot of positive energy to school clubs and culture not only at the student level but also staff and community level. And we would like to continue doing this, this is actually our third visit to Africa.

—Mr. Zini, School Director

I would, I would do another trip like this because I can see the other parts of the world, and communicate with other people, and I recommend everybody to show that you care to go yourself and see in your own eyes these things.

- Nicholas Casteneda, Grade 12

About Pathway to College

“Pathway to College” is an extracurricular program offered by schools, including Bergen Arts & Science Charter, to students in grades 7-12. It is designed to enhance students’ preparation for life after middle and high school. At Bergen Charter, the PTC club comprises more than 40 students, led by six teacher-advisors.

PTC provides a unique opportunity for students by establishing a long-term interactive advisor-student relationship. This creates an environment for high-achieving students to develop academic, social, leadership, and teamwork skills. The program encourages activities such as academic competitions, team building, college trips, and guest speakers.