January 31, 2025

Embracing kindness beyond St Jude's

Alumni unite to raise crucial funds for local orphanage

Embracing Kindness: Items donated by St Jude's alumni on their recent outing.

St Jude's is proud to have an engaged community of alumni who remain connected to the school. Though dispersed throughout Tanzania and beyond, they continue to embrace the school values of respect, kindness, responsibility, and honesty. From organising annual alumni reunions to volunteering at school events and even committing to regular financial giving, they are a constant source of inspiration for everyone at St Jude's.

As the year 2024 was winding down, the St Jude's Alumni Association decided to create a special moment with the less privileged in the community. They organised a visit to a local orphanage and raised more than AU$820 to purchase essential supplies, giving the children a holiday season to remember.

"The event was put together at the last minute with only about three days' notice. But the alumni community responded fast, and 125 alumni came together to support the initiative," explains Charles, one of the leaders of the Alumni Association at St Jude's. 

On the eve of New Year, Charles and ten other alumni delivered their donations to the orphanage, which serves as a vital sanctuary for children without family care in the region. They arranged a holiday to remember for the children, which included playing games, music, and sharing food, toiletries, and much more.

"The children and staff at the centre were very excited to see us. Most of them were curious to know what we had going on in our lives. So, we spent quite a bit of time sharing about ourselves which was very inspiring to them," narrates Charles.

Growing in Number: St Jude's alumni at the recent reunion event.

Among those who joined the volunteer delivery team was Kenedy, a 2019 St Jude’s graduate and current marketing professional. He was inspired by the initiative to give back to the community and a saw it as a way to end the year with kindness.

"I was deeply moved by the impact of our collective effort," reflects Kenedy.  “For many children, the orphanage is their home due to the loss of their parents or other disadvantaged circumstances, and it was really important for us to show them they’re not alone and that we care,” he says.

For Kenedy, like many St Jude's alumni, giving back to the community isn’t new.  In 2019, he participated in the Community Service Year (CSY) program, an initiative at St Jude's that gives graduates an opportunity to voluntarily teach at understaffed local government schools or assist at St Jude's ahead of higher education.

Kenedy credits his involvement in the program for deepening his commitment to service.

“It’s important for us to give back to the community. This is just one example of how we can do that,” says Kenedy.

Charles is proud of his colleagues, noting that the initiative highlighted the strength and togetherness of St Jude’s alumni. The Alumni Association was established in 2018 by founding members of St Jude’s Classes of 2015 and 2016 and has grown to over 1,300 active members since then. It continues to provide pathways for former students to stay connected to St Jude’s community once they have graduated from The School of St Jude.

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Replies

  1. The CSJ year is a wonderful initiative. We have received letters from our sponsored student with such joy and enthusiasm about her CSJ year and her commitment to making a difference. It has really helped her to cement her ideas about future study and presented her with opportunities to make valuable connections for the future.

  2. I really warms my heart to see, just how St.Jude has instilled kindness and compassion in it's Alumni. So proud of you all.

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