In 1993, OC Richard Clarke (1 North 1991) packed his bags, left the comforts of Surrey behind, and journeyed deep into the Tanzanian mountains. He had no phone, no internet, and often no idea when he would be able to speak to his family again. What he did have was a deep sense of purpose. Aged 19, Richard was one of the first pupils to take part in Cranleigh’s Schools Partnership Worldwide, spending nine months teaching English at Suji Secondary School, nestled high in the Pare Mountains.
After completing his A Levels Richard worked with sponsers in the UK and Cranleigh School and raised enough money to purchase an old Land Rover for the school, supply sports kit (purple 1 North rugby jerseys), books, and some essential science equipment.
Fast forward 32 years, and Richard is heading back—this time, with his own family and a mission to close the digital divide.
“When I first arrived, there was no electricity in the village, and the only sit-down toilet for miles was in my house,” Richard remembers. “The blackboards were cracked, the chalk was broken, but the students? They were extraordinary—hungry to learn, full of spirit.”
Now, Suji has made huge strides. The buildings are solid, the classrooms have furniture, and the boarding facilities are a far cry from what Richard saw in 1993. But one thing remains heartbreakingly clear: these students are being left behind in a digital world. The school has just two laptops—both for teachers—and not a single computer for student use.
So Richard asked the new headmaster, “What would help most?” The answer was immediate: laptops and projectors. Real tools that could revolutionise learning. Real opportunities to teach coding, digital literacy, and open up access to the modern world.
In response, Richard launched a grassroots campaign to collect and deliver computers to Suji. So far, he’s gathered over 40 laptops and 10 projectors—but he needs more. His goal is ambitious: to equip every classroom with a laptop and provide a full IT suite for digital learning. Any surplus equipment will go to another Tanzanian school where his family are also volunteering, training teachers in basic IT skills.
Here’s where you come in.
Do you have an old laptop collecting dust? Does your company have a cupboard full of unused tech? Richard would love to hear from you. This is a chance to give your old hardware a second life—and give students in Tanzania a chance at a first-class digital education.
You can support the campaign directly via GoFundMe or connect with Richard on LinkedIn to donate equipment or find out more.
Help Richard turn blackboards into digital classrooms and make sure no student is left behind—just because they don’t have a laptop.