“Hold on, take a moment to celebrate. There is music in the wind, let’s dance one more time. There’s a rhythm deep within, let’s dance one more time. One more time, sing a song, we will remember.”

These were the stirring lyrics that rang out across the Smith Secondary Assembly Hall on May 25th as the Class of 2019 raised their voices in perfect unison, the joy palpable in the air. Proudly singing their farewell song to the people that helped them reach a milestone unattainable for many young people in Tanzania – graduating from secondary school – they sang their gratitude for what had been and hope for what was yet to come.

Special guests, sponsors and donors from Australia, the UK and the United States, parents, St Jude’s staff and students packed out the hall to see the school’s fifth Form 6 year group walk across the stage to receive their leaving certificates.

St Jude’s Founding Director, Gemma Sisia, honoured not only the students but the whole St Jude’s community who have worked together tirelessly to create long-lasting change for the students throughout their 13 years of education.

“It is a wonderful celebration today, it’s our largest Form 6 cohort so congratulations to all 169 of you. You have a future of opportunity stretching out in front of you. However, you wouldn’t have reached where you are without a lot of people behind you doing a lot to help you on your way.”

“You wouldn’t be in this hall if it wasn’t for the Smith family, we wouldn’t have a school if we didn’t have a School Board - Mama Maeda has never missed a board meeting, our Parent Committee who help bridge the gap between home and school and, of course, we are very humbled by the contribution of our sponsors and donors,” Gemma said from the heart.

She also recognised all of the staff, without whose contribution the school would not run. Managers were gifted the sought-after Tanzanian delicacy of a chicken and our hardworking Secondary Headmaster, Mr Mcharo, was gifted a cow! He has plans to share his gift with the whole school.

Primary students and the award-winning Ngoma dance club added vibrant musical items to the program and Mr Tsingay ensured the proceedings ran smoothly taking the role of Master of Ceremonies.

A highlight of the day was a passionate address from graduates Rahim and Zulfa, who reflected on the achievements of their year level and the challenges ahead of them.

“We would like to show our sincere appreciation to our beloved Mama, Gemma Sisia, for her hard work and kind-hearted spirit. You have supported our education by working with donors and sponsors for so many years! Many of the sponsors and donors have crossed oceans to witness our graduation today and your work has made us stronger people.” Rahim insisted.

The audience also heard from sponsor, Jenny Fitzpatrick, who spoke to the graduates on behalf of all of the school’s sponsors and donors, particularly all that had travelled long distances to be part of the day. 

“The graduation program is a wonderful experience and a wonderful chance to get to know our students. We would like to thank your families who have welcomed us into your homes and into your hearts. You are the future, enjoy your celebrations,” Jenny beamed. 

Before drawing the ceremony to a close, Mr Mcharo asked students to remember one important thing from their time in the classroom, “mathematics teaches us one important thing, every problem has a solution”. Our graduates are now equipped with the tools to be a solver of problems; a receiver of opportunities and a beacon of inspiration.

It’s all thanks to the combined effort of thousands of people worldwide, who see the change that is possible for our students. Celebrating 169 of our Form 6 students graduate demonstrates exactly how St Jude’s is fulfilling its mission of ‘fighting poverty through education’.

Congratulations to the Class of 2019, we are all so proud of you.

Give more bright, poor students the gift of graduation by sponsoring their academic scholarship today as part of our 2019 Annual Appeal.

Bursting with pride and tears welling in his eyes, graduate Evance describes what finishing secondary school means to him and his family. 

“We have always dreamed about this day and now it’s actually happening. I’ve shouted out loud but also cried. We feel like WOW! There is now a way, there is hope.” 

It’s a milestone that the 20-year-old doubted he would reach a decade ago while living in a two-room mud and stick home in Unga Limited, an extremely poor and densely populated area close to central Arusha. Like many Tanzanian dwellings, Evance’s home had no plumbing; water is collected from a tap for a small per-bucket fee and meals for his family of seven were prepared over a simple kerosene-fueled stove.

“My life before St Jude’s was tough, it certainly wasn’t the way it is right now. I will never forget the day I sat the entrance tests. I was with my mum who was unwell but she still gave me the chance by coming with me. I still remember when I told my mum I had been accepted, we couldn’t believe it and then we celebrated. She said I don’t believe my son actually has a bright future,” Evance beams. The last decade of Evance’s schooling at The School of St Jude has all led to this point. He was determined not to be part of the two thirds of Tanzanian teenagers who are not in secondary school each year.

“It wasn’t until I met students from different government schools at a leadership workshop that I really realised St Jude’s has taught me to be bigger than I thought. People in the community respect and value St Jude’s students. It’s hard to find the words to thank my sponsor, it’s not easy to give to someone you don’t know. The most important thing I have gained from St Jude’s is the ability to see that you can help others,” Evance adds.
 The bright graduate will first give back to his community as part of the Beyond St Jude’s Community Service Year before the school supports his plans to study graphic design at university.

“I have chosen to do teaching at an under-resourced government school, as I wanted to stretch my hand somewhere else and I want to help people beyond my family. I am full of plans and big dreams,” Evance says, looking out over the Smith Secondary Campus which has been his second home for the last six years.

Joining Evance in sharing his St Jude’s quality education with less fortunate Tanzanians is fellow graduate, Zulfa.

“I studied at a government school before St Jude’s with a lot of kids in one class, with not enough text books and sometimes we didn’t have a teacher for a month. I want to change that so I have chosen to intern as a government school teacher with Beyond St Jude’s. I only have one mission, to leave my community better than I found it,” Zulfa smiles.

The 19-year-old who was raised by her grandma in Mwanama, a poor and semi-rural area not far from Arusha city, also wants to use her education to break down the barriers of gender inequality in her country.

“It is a great honor to be a girl who has been supported through her education and without being another mouth to feed in her family. Many of the girls my age are already wives and already have big families, but I am proud leaving St Jude’s being an independent woman,” Zulfa explains.

With plans to study Development Studies or International Relations and dreams to work for an international humanitarian organisation, Zulfa has these stirring words to share as she takes her first steps towards her bright future.

“I am one of the blessed ones. St Jude’s has taught me to receive freely and give freely. I leave with 169 new friends and as part of the biggest class to be graduating Form 6 in St Jude’s history, I know our class can certainly better our country.”

Evance adds a pledge he will live by long after he walks out of the St Jude’s gates for the last time as a student.

“If I were to tell Mama Gemma and our supporters one thing, I would say, I am really grateful. I want them to know that I won’t let them down and will make sure that what I have gained from St Jude’s, I will invest to change the community around me.”

Can you see the change in Evance’s & Lina’s lives? Help other students like them to reach this important milestone. Sponsor an academic scholarship during our 2019 Annual Appeal.