The Power of 14: Greenwich Middle Schoolers to Climb Mt Kilimanjaro; Raise Funds for K-12 Tanzanian School

Years before Diego Placido and Theo Ho could even locate East Africa on a map, much less envision an epic 7-day climb of Mount Kilimanjaro, they were 6-year-olds who became fast friends on the soccer field in Greenwich.

Today, Diego and Theo are 14-year-olds middle schoolers – Diego attends Central Middle school and Theo attends Eastern Middle School – and they are in training for an arduous climb of Kilimanjaro, the massive dormant volcano in Tanzania.

They depart for East Africa on Feb 5.

“We’ve been training for a while, using oxygen masks to limit the amount of oxygen we bring in,” Theo said.

Kilimanjaro is the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, and the air is especially thin at the top.

“It goes up to 20,000 feet,” Diego explained. “That’s normally where the human body reaches its breaking point and the desire for oxygen is strong. The body barely receives the oxygen it needs.”

The 14-year-olds acknowledge that people their age do not typically attempt the climb.

Diego’s father Rodrigo recalled that five years ago when he made the climb himself, he did not see teenagers.

Afterward, he recalled Diego announced, ‘Dad, I’m going to do that.’

Unfortunately, Diego was only 9 at the time. Too young.

But now is the time, and less than three weeks remain before Diego and Theo, along with Mr. Placido and Theo’s mother Pascale Sejean who are also doing the climb, head to Africa where it is summer time at the bottom of the mountain, but cold at the top, with temperatures dipping to -10°, with windy conditions.

As for the climb, the boys are keenly aware of the challenge ahead.

Aspiring climbers and fundraisers Diego Placido and Theo Ho in Old Greenwich. Jan 13, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager

 

“The last night is the summit night, it’s really intense because we depart the last camp before the summit at 10:00pm and reach the top at 8:00am. We stay less than an hour because the lack of air is a problem. You’re at an altitude where your body is suffering, so you have to leave soon,”” he said. “We catch the sunrise and then begin the descent in order to arrive on time at the base camp on the other side by 3:00pm or 4:00 pm.”

As for the climb, the boys are keenly aware of the challenge ahead.

“A crew carries a tank of oxygen in case anyone needs it,” Theo said. “Deigo’s dad said even some of the most fit people need an oxygen tank.”

Another part of the preparation for their climb includes taking medication to help prevent altitude sickness.

Giving Back

Diego said his father documented his trip in 2020 with photos, including scenes of poverty in the area around the base of the mountain.

“As my dad was climbing, I remember in one of his photos there was a shop with its tin roof destroyed,” Diego said, adding that the residents living in these conditions work as porters for the climbers, carrying bags and necessities, including oxygen. They set up medical tents and and food tents, and constantly check the climbers’ health and make sure their blood oxygen stays above a certain level.

“They also check if you have a fever or any symptoms of altitude sickness, like nausea or issues with your lungs,” Diego said.

Once committed to making the climb, Diego recalled the moment he and Theo made the decision to start a fundraiser.

“When I saw the photos from my dad’s trip and the area around the mountain, I called Theo and I said, ‘We need to do something about this. Let’s do something to fix this problem.’ The two of us and our parents sat down in my house and came up with a plan.”

The tour operator mentioned a local school that enrolls 30 children in grades K-12 and would greatly benefit from a donation.

That was the a-ha moment.

“The school and the students needed help, but it’s their parents, men and women who work as the porters who help people climb and make sure they get up there safely,” Theo said.

The tour operator put them in touch with the school principal.

“The principal sent us several photos of the outside of the school. Its walls were damaged. We later found out their roof was damaged as well,” Theo said. “Once we got in contact with them, we asked what could we do to help and they sent a list of necessities including 12 items. We’re getting them the first three computers ever for the school.”

“This school has never had a donation,” he added. “This will be their first.”

Diego recalled his reaction when he first saw photos of the school.

“From the outside you see white walls with yellow stains and missing windows. From the roof, there are exposed beams and rain comes right through,” he said.

“When we asked what they needed, they didn’t only ask for laptops and materials, but for food as well, including rice and beans,” Diego said.

“And dictionaries,” Theo said.

“And we want some money we raise to go to repairing the school’s roof,” he added.

Diego read aloud the school’s wish list: computers, printers, projectors, desktop computers, an English dictionary  for beginners, a PA system, solar panels for power, a refrigerator, cooking gas, 25 liters of cooking oil, 100 kg of beans, mattresses, paper, soap, mops, dictionaries for translating Swahili to English, 100 kg of rice, 100 kg of flour.

The boys’ fundraising began in earnest.

“We realized we had to get serious,” Theo said.

Initially their goal was to raise $4,000, but when they calculated what it would cost to fulfill the school wish list, the estimate was between $8,000 and $10,000.

With help from parents, they set up a GoFundMe fundraiser that today has achieved $7,766 in donations.

“It started slowly,” Diego said.  “We started asking our families and friends for donations.”

At the annual New Year’s Day plunge at Tod’s Point the teens asked random people for help.

More donations ensued.

“Then we started calling everyone we know,” Diego said.

Theo said the community at High Rise, a travel basketball program out of Stamford, came through with a significant donation, as did the families at Little Friends Pre School.

“We knocked on our neighbors doors too,” Diego said. “Also, I asked the principal Healy at Central Middle School and got permission for a plea on the morning announcements.”

The boys are enthusiastic about both their shared goals: making it to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and back down safely, as well as hitting their $10,000 goal to make a difference to the local community at the mountain base.

They are especially looking forward to hand delivering items to the school.

“Giving money is not enough. What will improve the region is education,” Rodrigo said. “That is the answer. When the boys saw pictures of the school, they said, ‘They need help.'”

“We will get to meet the kids and the principal, and hand out stuff to the kids,” Theo said. “That is big to us. We believe that all kids deserve an opportunity for a proper education just like us.”

“Any amount is appreciated. These kids need an education just like ours. This is going to change people’s lives,” Diego said.

Check out their GoFundMe fundraiser “Friends Supporting Tanzanian School,” and consider making a donation.

Diego Placido and Theo Ho with Theo’s dog Ollie in Old Greenwich. Jan 13, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager

Contributed photo of the school in Tanzania the boys are raising funds to assist. Photo: GoFundMe/Friends Supporting Tanzanian School

Contributed photo of the school in Tanzania the boys are raising funds to assist. Photo: GoFundMe/Friends Supporting Tanzanian School

Contributed photo of the school in Tanzania the boys are raising funds to assist. Photo: GoFundMe/Friends Supporting Tanzanian School