Shaping the Future

For Rogers, Class of 2024, the inspiration to make a difference came shortly after finishing high school. As he spent time with younger siblings, friends and students in local government schools, he noticed a challenge many young people silently face. Students were struggling with examinations, uncertain about career paths and lacking confidence when speaking in front of others. It was not because they lacked intelligence or potential. What they lacked was guidance, exposure, and encouragement.

Rogers is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Governance and Development at MS TCDC but joined forces with fellow St Jude’s alum James in 2024 to establish an NGO called We All Can Africa. Although James is currently in Mauritius pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurial Leadership, the two continue working together toward one shared vision to create a future where every student, regardless of background, has access to the skills, confidence and support needed to succeed both academically and personally.

“What pushed me most was seeing students who are capable but lack guidance and confidence,” Rogers explains. “Sometimes a student just needs someone to explain things differently and remind them that they are capable of succeeding.”

Through We All Can Africa, the team visits local government schools to conduct interactive sessions on public speaking, gender awareness, career guidance and exam preparation. Their mission goes beyond delivering motivational talks for a single afternoon. They want students to walk away feeling seen, informed, empowered and more confident about their future.

So far, the organisation has reached more than 200 students from three different local government schools around Arusha. For many students, it was the first time having open conversations about careers, confidence and practical study and exam techniques that can significantly improve performance.

What makes their initiative especially impactful is how authentic and relatable it is. They understand the realities these students face because they have witnessed them closely in their own communities.

Rogers credits much of their inspiration and confidence to the environment they experienced at The School of St Jude.

“St Jude’s gave us exposure and taught us how to approach challenges with confidence,” Rogers says. “The support we received made us realise that we can also return and help others in a meaningful way.”

There is something deeply inspiring about young alumni who choose to return to their communities and build solutions instead of simply talking about the problems. Rogers and James could have focused solely on their personal journeys after graduation, but instead, they chose impact. They chose service. They chose to create opportunities for others.

Although their work is still growing, their vision is already clear. In early June, Rogers and the We All Can Africa team plan to host another session at a local secondary school, continuing their mission of reaching more students and opening more doors through awareness, guidance and encouragement.