Through professional development, collaborative lesson planning, co-teaching and immersion in daily school life, visiting educators and St Jude’s teachers exchange skills, knowledge and experiences.

Mrs Erin, an art teacher at The Galloway School in Atlanta, Georgia, spent the program working alongside Mr Kephas, St Jude’s art teacher at Girls’ Secondary School. Here, they share some of the highlights from the program.

Mrs Erin – Art teacher

1. Why did you want to get involved in this program?

I teach art to middle school students, which is grades five through eight at my school. My school is called the Galloway School, and we've had a partnership with the Kufundisha Pamoja program for about seven or eight years. Many of my colleagues have come and really just raved about their experience and how positive it was. And I’m really excited that it was finally my turn to come!

2. What has been a highlight for you during the program?

Getting to know Mr Kephas has been such a highlight. Seeing the students have so much affection for him has been so special because you can tell that they have a really good rapport and they’re comfortable in the art room, which is so important in making them comfortable to take creative risks.  

3. Why is investing in teachers so important

When you invest in a teacher, you are investing in hundreds or thousands of students’ futures because every teacher touches so many students. And so, if you can make an impact with a teacher and teach them something new, and they teach that to many other students, and those students go out in the world and spread that, it’s definitely making an impact on the future.

4. What have you learned from this program?

Mr Kephas taught me how to make batik (a traditional fabric-dyeing technique), which was really exciting. I have a whole new vision for how I’m going to use that in my classroom. Mr Kephas has been so generous in sharing his teaching wisdom and his teaching time with me. It’s not always easy to allow another teacher into your classroom but he's been really open to my ideas and sharing the time.

Mr Kephas

1. How would you describe the experience in one word?

Exceptional! This experience has added lots to my career and professional development. Erin is an exceptional teacher who I learned a lot of unique teaching techniques from. These are things that I am already bringing into the classroom.

2. What have you enjoyed most about working together?

I’ve loved sharing ideas. We plan the lesson together and think about how we can engage the students. We also look at how we can use the school’s available resources such as the projector and the computers in lessons. The students also asked her a lot of questions. They really enjoyed having her in the classroom.

3. What have you gained?

When you get the chance to talk with another teacher from the other side of the world who is teaching the same thing, it really helps. When you have a problem, you can share it with them, and they can give you a new way to tackle it. That can be really helpful in the future. That’s why we say we gained a lot from the experience, especially new skills.

With heavy preparations and the microphones ready, the stage was set. From Kenya and Uganda, to Rwanda, Tanzania, and even Burundi, students came together here at The School of St Jude, Smith Campus. This was not just a normal gathering; it was a celebration of ideas, persuasion, and the art of speaking truth with passion.

The East African Schools Debate Championships is one of the biggest competitions hosted annually in Tanzania that features academic sports like debate, public speaking, and quiz. This tournament not only brings students together, but also sharpens the communication skills of the young East African generation.

Mr Joseph, Head of Languages at St Jude’s Secondary and public speaking club mentor, chaired the organising committee for the tournament. He says he is very proud to be a part of the team that nurtures young minds.

“It was great for students from other countries to experience the St Jude’s values and culture. Nothing beats the feeling of bringing young voices to one platform,” he says

Barriers were certainly broken this year, with over 350 students from across East Africa attending the tournament: an increase of more than 150 from last year. Over 40 students from St Jude’s had the invaluable opportunity to learn from the best young debaters and speakers across the region.

Uganda took home the top prize in the debate category, while Kenya earned the top award in public speaking. St Jude’s was well represented, with three students making it to the final six in the public speaking competition.

One of those finalists was Form 5 student Lillian, who was thrilled to be able to represent
St Jude’s.

“The tournament was challenging. There were lots of students from across East Africa and it was very competitive. When my name was mentioned as one of the finalists, I was really nervous, but I had so much fun participating,” she says.

Lillian, who especially enjoyed the debate section of the competition, explains that delivering a strong speech requires strong preparation. Like many of her fellow students, she is an active member of the public speaking and debating clubs at St Jude’s, where students meet weekly to sharpen these
essential skills.

“In our public speaking and debating clubs, we learn more about how to become better speaker. We also get to practise at competitions like this. We believe that practice beats talent. It starts with believing
in yourself, then being confident, and never giving up,” she says.

St Jude’s also proudly secured second place overall in the tournament, a testament to the hard work and dedication of both the students and the staff. Both Mr Joseph and Lillian believe that opportunities like this competition are important in helping students develop key 21st century skills.

“We have seen many students from Uganda, Kenya, Burundi travelling long distance to come in this tournament. We’re already looking forward to next year and hope we will have even more students participating in 2026,” says Mr Joseph.

As the curtains closed on this year’s East African Schools Debate Championships, the energy, passion, and determination of the students left a lasting impression. With each debate made and every speech delivered, the students demonstrated that they are not only ready to be heard but are already becoming the voices of change across East Africa.

Our Form 1 students from St Jude’s Girls’ Secondary School have launched an exciting new agricultural project: a hands-on journey in vegetable farming. From land preparation to harvest, students have cultivated Chinese cabbage while gaining practical skills in sustainable food production. The result? A thriving garden, fresh produce, and a newfound pride in growing their own food.

Ms Monica, the agriculture teacher at the girls’ school who is spearheading the new initiative, says students have responded with great enthusiasm.

“The project motivates more Form 1 students since they have participated in all stages, from land preparation to harvesting. They were happy to consume the vegetables they produced themselves. It is also inspiring other classes and staff to come to visit the garden. Seeing this motivates them to practice vegetable gardening too.”

It’s no secret that the Annual Science Day has become a launchpad for the next generation of innovators, and this year’s event was no exception! Now in its 15th year, the day brought together students to present both individual and group projects that not only highlighted their expertise in science, ICT, and maths, but also provided creative solutions to some of today’s most pressing global challenges.

With nearly half the student body participating, many focused on pioneering renewable energy solutions like solar power and biogas, pushing us closer to a sustainable future.

Take a closer look at the remarkable projects from this year’s Science Day and see how these young innovators are shaping the world of tomorrow.

St Jude's has always been a place where young minds are nurtured and bold ideas are born. However, turning a passion into a sustainable business is no easy task - it requires practical skills, mentorship, and the right kind of support. To help bridge this gap, the school recently launched the Next Frontier Incubator and Small Grants Program, designed to help alumni transform their entrepreneurial dreams into reality.

The 20-week program, which kicked off in January, offers 25 alumni the opportunity to develop essential business skills through expert mentorship, tailored resources, and hands-on training in critical areas such as business planning, financial management, goal-setting, and legal compliance.

Program Specialist Neema explained that the initiative was established to help alumni with innovative business ideas transform them into successful ventures and build a strong foundation for long-term growth.

“We found that many alumni had incredible ideas but didn't know the next steps. They were caught between creative development and the practical aspects of business management. This program helps bridge that gap by offering the resources needed to turn these ideas into a viable business,” Neema says.

The inaugural group includes ideas from a range of industries, including art, manufacturing, construction, and transport. They each submitted a business proposal detailing their vision, goals, and the challenges their businesses aim to address, which formed the basis of their admission to the program.

“Many of these ideas aim to solve real-world problems and make a positive impact on people and the planet. Some are startups that, despite winning awards, are facing challenges in scaling, while others are still in the early stages of development and getting their ideas off the ground. The cohort meets twice a week for expert-led sessions and assignments to help them refine their goals, develop their mission statements, and map out their next steps,” Neema says.

At the end of the program, the students will pitch their ideas to an external panel of experts who will assess their business models, scalability, and community impact. Successful pitches will receive grant funding up to US$5,000 to support key areas such as product development and marketing.

One alum, Queen, Class of 2021, said she jumped at the opportunity to be part of the program. After studying art and design in Dar es Salaam, she founded The Kids Hub, an art workshop offering creative classes in painting, jewellery making, and digital art for children and young adults in Arusha.

“I've always had a passion for art, and I wanted to create a space where young people could explore their creativity,” says Queen, who has a studio in the centre of Arusha where she runs her classes.

“Art is often overlooked in schools, so I wanted to provide a space where kids could develop their skills, express themselves, and sell their work. We've already held two classes, and the response has been incredible.”

Queen's ultimate goal is to expand The Kids Hub into a larger space where people of all ages can learn and appreciate art - a goal she feels is within reach thanks to the insights gained from the program.

“The Next Frontier Incubator and Small Grants Program has been a real eye-opener. It's hands-on and practical, and the sessions have given me so many tools to improve my business. I've learned how to manage stress, scale my business, and navigate the financial side. It's a complete package that has really set me up for success,” says Queen.

“I'm also learning so much from my fellow participants, as we all exchange advice and insights. My goal is to run regular classes and continue to grow the business, and by the end of this program, I'm confident I'll be able to achieve that.”

In addition to supporting the entrepreneurial endeavours of alumni, St Jude's has also launched a Pre-Incubator Program for current high school students. This extracurricular club serves as a stepping stone into the Next Frontier Incubator and Small Grants Program, offering students the chance to explore entrepreneurship as a potential career path from an early age.

 “The Pre-Incubator Program provides students with the tools and support they need to develop their ideas and prepare for the full incubator program if they wish to pursue it professionally after graduation,” Neema explains.

“By introducing entrepreneurship at the high school level, we're encouraging students to see it as a viable career path, and empowering them to become innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders both within their communities and beyond.”

Every year, hundreds of new students enrol at St Jude's on full scholarships at the primary, lower- and upper-secondary levels across our three campuses. The scholarship application process is competitive and involves academic testing that considers the financial and social situation at home. Our Community Relations team oversees this entire process, with the help of the whole St Jude’s community. The team also handles student health and welfare, parent portfolio, and home visits.

"The students that attend St Jude's are from families who could not have otherwise afforded private school education," explains Philip, Community Relations Manager at St Jude's. "Providing free, quality education goes a long way in ensuring that children from such families have a future in which they thrive, effectively breaking the cycle of poverty."

While free, quality education is a proven path out of poverty for our students' families, other challenges could prevent students from achieving their goals. According to St Jude's poverty assessment data, most, if not all, of our students' families do not have health insurance and never go for regular health check-ups. It is common for household members to visit a health centre or hospital only when they fall seriously ill or when home remedies fail. This lack of preventive care increases the risk of undiagnosed health complications that may go unnoticed for extended periods.

"That's why at St Jude's, we conduct annual health checks for all students, including newly enrolled and continuing students. A team of international and local medical professionals and volunteers spend two weeks at the school performing comprehensive health assessments. These checks provide recommendations that help us better understand our students' health needs and tailor our support systems accordingly," says Philip.

One significant intervention made possible by the health checks involved a student, Fatuma, a recent graduate of St Jude's Girls' Secondary School. During her initial health check, the medical team detected a hearing problem that her family had been unaware of. The St Jude's Health and Welfare team collaborated with her family to address the issue, allowing Fatuma to continue her studies freely.

"Without the health checks, it's unlikely that we would have detected the problem and addressed it in time," reflects Fatuma's father, Abubakari, a single parent of three children. "Since my family does not have health insurance and never go for regular check-ups, these assessments were the only means for me to know what was wrong with my daughter and seek medical help."

Annually since 2010, St Jude's has been conducting health checks for its students. The program has evolved based on feedback from the school, the Health Check team, and knowledge of available health services in the region. With a shared understanding that healthy students learn more effectively, these health checks focus on identifying health and wellbeing issues that could impact students' ability to learn individually and collectively.

The Health Check team provides specific advice to parents regarding their children and general recommendations to the school based on observed health trends.

"As a school, we take proactive steps to support students who need special attention," says Gloria, Health and Welfare Officer at St Jude's. "These measures include dietary adjustments, regular sessions with the school counsellor, and other personalized interventions. My team works closely with parents to ensure students remain in peak health and that any health concerns are addressed promptly."

Beyond dedicated health and welfare programs, the school promotes positive student well-being through nutritious meals, physical education, extracurricular activities, a full-time school counsellor, and structured rest periods. A St Jude's scholarship goes beyond tuition and academic support—it ensures the success of future Tanzanian leaders through a truly holistic approach that prioritises education and well-being.