Millions of students in Africa spend their days packed into tiny classrooms, sitting on dirt floors for hours at a time. Giving them the most basic tools – a place to sit, read and write - could help them achieve a better education and a brighter future.

The MSNBC community is working to make that a reality.

MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell teamed up with UNICEF in 2010 in a groundbreaking partnership to create the K.I.N.D Fund – Kids In Need of Desks.

The program has raised more than $5.7 million to date, providing tens of thousands of desks to schoolchildren in Malawi. Girls have an especially hard time gaining a solid education in Malawi where only 7% complete their high school education. Unlike primary school, the cost of education isn’t free. Through a new K.I.N.D. initiative, the public can provide scholarships to these young women.

For $32.50, you can give the gift of a seat to one student. For $65, you can purchase an entire desk that will seat two or three students. A donation of $177 will cover one year of a girl’s education, which includes tuition, room and board, text books, transportation, a school uniform and other learning supplies.

No donation is too small. If you want to contribute to the K.I.N.D Fund, please visit LastWordDesks.msnbc.com or call 1-800-4-UNICEF.

For more, check out the short film by Philippe Brault about the children of Malawi and the K.I.N.D Fund (Kids In Need of Desks)

For more feature photography, go to msnbc.com/photography