For the competition, students were required to write an essay of up to 1,000 words about the topic: “How can governments, businesses, non-profits, individuals and the youth collaborate to maximize Africa’s youth potential for the continent’s development and prosperity?” Here’s Wenseslaus’ essay:
In Africa there is a very large number of youth that has even exceeded other age groups. A youth age rank from 15- 27 years age. Around 43% of Africans are youth with the potential to bring development to this continent. Potential is the ability of prosperity that is within an individual to do something much better for development purposes.
“The world is on the cusp of entering a new reality in which human potential itself will become the major agent of economic growth,” said Jeffrey A. Joerres, CEO and President of Manpower Group, “Entering human age”, 2011.
Government is the group of people responsible for their citizens in the sense of leadership and law maintenance. The non-governmental organizations are organizations that do not depend on government support to run their activities. Businesses deal with provision of goods and services to consumers at the time of need while individuals are independent people. All these groups and individuals can come together to maximize the potential of African youth in different ways.
Firstly, by providing quality education and vocational skills. This can be done through construction of schools. Individuals may assist in learning institutions and even find scholarship opportunities for youth. Due to the fact that many Africans are not educated and those who are educated have low quality education, there is a need for these groups including individuals to assist in quality education for youth.
For those who are not qualified academically, there should be vocational skills training that could help them get qualifications. There are about 133 million young people, 50% of whom are illiterate. If this number is reduced, we could count on a big development step for Africa. For example, an educated person can control a business well and later the profit is used for future development by paying tax to government.
Fruits of education cannot be seen in a short time. It takes some years to reap what you sow.
There must be greater investment in science and technology. When governments, non-profit organisations, businesses and individuals join forces in science and technology we expect to enhance development in our continent. Also through empowering women to study science subjects. This would increase the number of students and graduates.
There are so many youth in Africa who have the potential to do well in science and technology. Much concentration can be put in this sector since it is important that we consider the world’s fast moving technology. Many inventions, ideas, and discoveries have come from America, Asia and Australia but very few come from Africa. This shows we are behind in technology. If we invest we will one day end up developing in line with the Europeans and others.
Moreover, there is a need to create more employment opportunities. Employment makes a person self-reliant since they have a source of income. It should not just be spoken about but implemented and jobs should only go to qualified people so businesses can prosper. Uneducated persons can make a business decline as a factor of not having enough knowledge. Through employment, people will be able to pay taxes to their governments which will help in construction of social services like schools, roads and hospitals.
We have to start trusting youth and give them a chance to show their worth. If you hire a youth to control your business, I would assure you of a great success rather than anyone else, particularly if it is not their homeland. An African has a true love for their land compared to anyone else from abroad. I believe Africans can do better things, once given a chance.
Unemployment rate in Africa
|
Year |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
% |
26.7 |
25.5 |
22.5 |
22.9 |
23.9 |
24.9 |
24.9 |
22.7 |
Nevertheless, rendering of resources such as books and equipment to youth is another important factor. These can help youth to accomplish their dreams. These tools can include learning materials in the education sector, provision of quality machines will make the production more effective and lead to prosperity.
Equipment, resources and tools may be offered by different methods like loans. Capital to start a business can be provided and interest be paid in return. This will make youth be more serious about their work knowing that they have something in return rather than just providing equipment for free without any consideration. For example youth who use computers to study have a higher ability for understanding compared to those who study without. Students who are exposed to resources perform much better than those without.
Furthermore, giving out reasonable loans can build the spirit of entrepreneurship in youth. Not only in business but also loans for study costs. There are some wealthy individuals like Dangote from Nigeria who are wealthy enough to provide loans to youth in order to maximize their potential. According to the loans rules they have strict conditions for one to obtain a loan. The government and banks should try to make the conditions lighter so we have a larger number of youth taking loans.
For example, people need fixed assets to get a loan and many youth come from poor families. They may not have assets but they have the potential to do something to get out of that poverty. Hard conditions limit the number of youth putting effort into development and as a result hinders development overall.
In conclusion, the main thing needed is to main and bring development to African youth is teamwork and cooperation. These are the keys to a successful life.
Though there are various challenges that are facing African youth such as poor infrastructure, lack of technology, poor administrative leadership and lack of skills, I still believe that one day Africa will be a place of another world. Changes are possible with commitment to oneself. If we have opportunities, let’s make good use of it. The little knowledge we have, let’s use it to bring greater change and reduce poverty.
Let’s make Africa a home for other continents.
There were around 200 entries and 46 came from St Jude’s. Ebenezer made it into the top 10 and travelled to Dar es Salaam for the award ceremony. He didn’t get one of the major prizes but was awarded a merit certificate and Tsh/-50,000. Ebenezer says he wants to use the money during the break to enlarge his chicken house so he can keep more chickens. Here's his essay:
Standards are documented agreements containing specifications or other precise criteria to be used consistently as rules, guidelines or definitions of characteristics to ensure that material, products, processes and serves are fit for their purpose. For example, the format of credit cards and smart cards that have become common place is derived from an ISO international standard. Adhering to the standards which defines such features as an optimum thickness (0.76mm) means that the card can be used world wide. Positive change is the act or result of replacing things, people and services from a worse situation to a better one.
Standardization began many years ago but started accelerating and becoming common in the 1960’s during the time of industrial revolution in many parts of the world. Standards were introduced to increase productivity and the quality of the goods. Currently each country in the world has its own national standards organization. In Tanzania we have Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) which was established in 1975 under a Ministry of Industry and Trade by an act of parliament. In 1976 the name was changed to Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) which effectively and officially began its operation in 1977. The world standard organization is called ISO. The International Organization for Standardization was established in 1947 with the mission of promoting the development of standardization and related activities in the world with a view to facilitate the international exchange of goods and services and to develop cooperation in spheres of intellectual, scientific, technological and economical activity.
Standards ensure positive change in many ways. These changes are beneficial to individuals and the world at large. These are some of the positive changes brought about by standards.
Standards reduce the cost in production by optimizing operations and therefore improve the bottom line. Since the tools used in production are standardized, they work efficiently hence reducing the cost compared to when non-standardized tools are used. For instance, electronic machines which have no standards consume a lot of electric energy. This becomes a burden in production since the cost is multiplied. Tools and machines with no standards may only last a short time. This can cause an organization to undergo unnecessary costs in purchasing new tools or repairing them often.
Standards enhance customer satisfaction and increase sales in business when products are at their best quality and approved by standards such as ISO or TBS, customers are found to be satisfied leading to an increase in sales. For example, American products are often most preferred due to the fact that they are approved by the American National Standards which is very strict so as to ensure quality of the product. Imagine the world without standards. People would be complaining due to the increase of fake products in the market. It would be very difficult to determine quality products. Businesses would face difficulties in proving the qualities of their goods to their trusted customers.
New markets are accessed due to the existence of standards. International standards help prevent trade barriers and open up the global market. People of the African continent are able to import computers from Europe and Asia due to the presence of international standards. Any product approved by international standards to meet the requirements can be sold in any nation without any barrier. Even though the product is quality but it is not approved by the international standards, such products may be regarded as fake products. Some fake medicines have been imported into our country but because we have the national bureau of standards (TBS), all these medicines have been noticed and are being banned from sale so as to ensure the good health of citizens. This leads to economic development of the nation. Tanzania experienced rapid growth in production since 2006 due to roles played by TBS in ensuring standards for efficiency of the society as shown in the graph below
Standards increase market share through increasing productivity and competitive advantage. International standards raise competition in productivity and quality of goods. Many countries in the world have tried their best to produce quality products so as to attract more customers so as to increase their export trade. Goods imported to our country come from foreign nations. This is because we are still undeveloped because we import more compared to what we export. Standards raise competition in the global market by deciding which product deserves to be exported or imported. When goods which are below the required standards are imported or exported, such goods may be banned from being sold by the concerned national standards organization. Every nation in the world has its criteria for assessing the quality of products depending on the development of that country. Some products for instance can meet the required standard in Tanzania but cannot do the same in the USA. This is due to the technological and economical gap that exists. The biggest role of international standards is in increasing market share is creating national prestige where by each nation wants to honored in quality of goods it produces hence leading to global competition in productivity.
Standards also reduce negative impacts on the environment. Taking importation of cars as an example, some of the cars produce a lot of smoke into the atmosphere. In order to reduce such problems, international standards had to be introduced. For that reason, car manufacturing industries have tried their level best to modify car engines which produce less pollution in the atmosphere to meet the required standard. Imagine the world with no standards.
Standards ensure peace and security in the world. Products such as explosives and flammable liquids like petroleum have to be approved by international standards so as to avoid various accidents in case they are misused. Tanzanian and other international standards ensure that chemicals are stored in favorable conditions. For example, acids which are imported to our nation are ensured to be at optimum concentration and not being too concentrated. This is to safeguard the users.
Standards ensure expertise in the entire world. Through standards people become experts in various fields such as engineering, information and communication technology, electronics and mechanics. Since quality and efficiency of goods are judged based on standards, industries and manufacturing companies ensure creativity which induces expertise. Example, in South Africa we have well experienced experts in car manufacturing and these are made to the international standard and able to suit the conditions for transport in Africa.
Employment opportunities are broadened by standards. The standards organizations across the world provide employment opportunities to many people. Managers, laboratory technicians, chemists, scientists are among the careers provided by standards organizations.
A standard stimulates Innovation in the society. Standards have a considerable role to play in stimulating a knowledge-intensive activity such as innovation, regardless of whether this is focused on products or processes. Researchers, developers, engineers and marketing experts use standardization documents as important sources of information about state-of-the-art technology and processes. Standards and standardization activities strongly support the processes by which new technology is adopted and used, and they have a potentially powerful influence on the dissemination of information about technology. Standards increases creativity in the society where people have been coming up with new techniques in undertaking production.
In 2009, when St Jude’s opened up applications for some extra spaces available in our secondary school, a teenage girl from the Maasai tribe in the nearby village of Olkokola applied.
The Maasai are among the best known ethnic groups in Africa. They live near the great national parks of Northern Tanzania and Southern Kenya, and wear colorful clothing and jewelry.
You know you’re on Maasai land when you see their bomas, circles of oval mud-and-stick huts, from afar. The Maasai are seminomadic cattle herders and warriors for whom Swahili is a second language.
Evaline displayed that good warrior spirit when she came to us, carrying a report card with excellent grades and the dream to pursue the kind of education that would allow her to have a professional career.
At St Jude we are determined to help Evaline fulfill her dream.
We are very aware that in order to succeed in this task, our role needs to go beyond excellent teaching, great learning resouces, books and desks and nutritious meals. Those are all extremely important components of a good education, the hardware, and we provide them.
But when you work with children, especially those coming from poor families, such as Evaline, you also have to help them develop that subtle internal software that gives them the self-belief to aim high.
Children living in poverty sometimes lack the self-confidence to accept that they belong anywhere other than in poverty.
That is especially challenging, given that aspiration, self-belief and high self-esteem are key changers for the outcomes for young people.
As the American economist Bruce Wydick put so well, “poverty causes children to have very low self-esteem, low aspirations.” He also tells us that it is possible to break this cycle of self doubt passed on from generation to generation.
Wydick led a study showing that sponsored students tend to fare much better than non-sponsored ones. In his own words:
The big difference that sponsorship makes is that it expands children's views about their own possibilities. Many of these children don't think they are capable of much. We help them realize that they are each given special gifts from God to benefit their communities, and we try to help them develop aspirations for their future.
As I settle in my role as School Director, I am very encouraged to find every sign that St Jude’s is helping our students develop both hard and soft skills for life. It is wonderful to hear Evaline and her classmates speak of their professional aspirations. Our secondary students tell us they want to become engineers, doctors, business executives, journalists, and a number of other professions.
I am convinced that an important part of the mission for all leaders at St Jude’s is to guide our teams so that they encourage students to have faith in their abilities and to reach for the sky.
At St Jude’s, Evaline has discovered her immense passion for medicine. We will help her strengthen the soft skills of self confidence and hope so that she fulfills her dream to become a doctor and give back to her Maasai community and her country.
The two most important contributors to the Tanzanian economy are the agriculture and natural resource sectors.
Agricultural production and the mining of natural resources have the ability to create thousands of dependable jobs. Take the recent discovery of natural gas reserves off the shores of Tanzania – this is an untapped energy source that, if facilitated properly, can provide thousands of jobs for skilled Tanzanian’s to provide reliable electricity to households across the nation. This energy boom has the potential to spread throughout the nation in the form of infrastructure projects, education improvements and health investments.
Scientists of every degree and field will be needed as the economy expands and slowly inches into the middle class. Ultimately, the reach of the agriculture and natural resource industries can expand into every sector, creating countless jobs. The opportunity is out there, waiting to be had. All we have to do is reach out and grab it. But where do we begin in getting qualified Tanzanians into these positions? The answer is simple: education.
Physics, chemistry, maths, ICT, biology – the sciences and technology are where we need to educate students, to foster within them a love for these subjects. This is precisely the goal of St Jude’s Annual science fair.
In a day filed with experiments, creative thinking and technological innovation, the St Jude’s Secondary Smith Campus hosted its 3rd Annual Science Fair with the mission to promote a love of science and technology through hands-on skills. This is an initiative of the school in general, to be a facilitator of learning and sharing of knowledge in Tanzania.
Over 700 students, staff, visiting schools and invited guests gathered to see over 60 unique science projects based upon seven different subjects: maths, biology, physics, chemistry, ICT, geography and art. Students offered a range of interesting and innovate presentations. Some of the standout projects included a homemade generator, a cooing system, a cutting and blending machine and use of local medicine.
St Jude’s new Senior A-Level science block, funded by donations from Global Immersion in Australia, was also officially opened. This new building will be home to the incoming Form 5 class, which recently finished 1st in the Arusha Region and 7th in the nation in the 2012 Form IV national exams. Students will focus their A-Level combinations on the sciences and maths, using these new labs to learn through practical, hands-on classroom experience.
We want to cultivate a science community that encompasses neighbouring schools, institutions and businesses. Visiting schools included Edmund Rice Secondary, Precious Blood Secondary, Moshono Secondary, Shepherd Secondary, Good Hope Orphanage School and Makiba Secondary School. Distinguished guests in attendance included representatives from Tanzania Heads of Secondary Schools Association (TAHOSA), Nelson Mandela University, Global Cycle Solutions and Kilimanjaro International Institute for Telecommunications, Electronics & Computers (KIITEC).
Only together can we convince the world that Tanzania is more than just Mount Kilimanjaro and a safari adventure, however spectacular they are. Lions and climbing will only carry the country so far. Maths and sciences will propel it to the next level.
In a national essay competition held by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards in October, all secondary students throughout Tanzania were invited to submit an original essay between 1,000 - 1,500 words to "explore their own unique perspective on the role of standards in increasing efficiency, better results and in reducing waste." It wasn't exactly the easiest topic, but staying committed to the task, our students put pen to paper and drafted articulate, thoughtful responses.
After all the submissions were reviewed, ten finalists were invited to Dar es Salaam to attend the awards ceremony. Of those ten finalists, six were from The School of St Jude, all in either Form 2 or Form 3! Our fantastic volunteer teacher librarian mentor at Smith Secondary, Helen, took our students all the way to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's commercial capitol, for the students to receive their certificates. Of our six finalists, Denis in Form 2, came in 2nd!
On the heels of his tremendous achievement, we invited Denis to share with us a moment in his life that really meant something to him. Below is what he had to say (without any editing from us):
The Moment that Meant Something in my Life
My name is Denis aged 17 years old. I come from a family of five members. In my family I have my father, two brothers and one sister. My family is a single parent family because in March 2007 my mother passed away from a heart disease. My hobbies are playing soccer and reading updated news, also I have a future plan of one day being a doctor.
In 2005 I had a moment which really meant something in my life and this was the moment I joined the School of St Jude. Joining the School of St Jude meant a lot in my life because before I joined St Jude I did not have any future plan instead I thought that I can never make it in life. These thoughts came as a result of failing in my exam, getting tough punishments and having an unpleasant environment for studying. All this made me not to attend school in most of the days instead I could hide in the street until school hours are over and I could return back home with my friend who went to school. But after joining St Jude my life changed and I saw school as a better place to live. This is because in St Jude I met good teachers, transport, condusive environment and fantastic learning resources. Also after joining St Jude I started having future plans and I saw that one day I will make it, that’s why I can say that joining the School of St Jude meant a lot in my life.
Generally the School of St Jude put me in a place where I can never give up, instead I will work hard so that I can fulfil my dream of becoming a doctor. I know that I can make it. This is because if anybody else can do it, I can do it better. This means that if people like Ben Carson were able to make it I can make it too. On the other hand I would like to thank my school and my sponsor for the support which I have been receiving and I promise to work extra hard so that I can make it and bring success and changes in my community.
Denis exemplifies the characteristics of St Jude's students - strong willed, ambitious and thoughtful. If Denis says he's going to be a doctor, we believe him because he believes in himself. His inspiration is what St Jude's is about, providing an otherwise unavailable educational opportunity for those students with the determination and potential to not only dream of a better life, but to dream bigger, beyond their wildest imaginations.
St Jude's currently has more than 1,500 students who are daring to dream. Next year we'll have 150 more students join our family, and one day they too will DARE TO DREAM, just like Denis has.
This past Saturday marked another historic achievement in The School of St Jude timeline: our very first Form 4 graduation! It was a remarkable day that our oldest students will look back on years from now with great satisfaction. As St Jude's has grown over the last ten years, it has been our Form 4 students who have paved the way - through trial and error, mistakes and successes - for all succeeding classes to follow.
They have been our experimental class to improve our methods and curriculum, as well as fine tune the inner machinations of St Jude's. And they've handled it all with grace and a smile, going above and beyond what is been expected of them both in and out of the classroom.
We're incredibly proud of them as they advance on to Form 5. In this guest blog post we welcome back Jane Wall, the Academic Head of St Jude's, who reports on Saturday's F4 graduation and where exactly our new graduates go from here.
Follow Jane on Twitter, @janewall.
By Jane Wall
We have just seen our first F4 graduation ceremony – and what a momentous occasion that was. The event was full of typical colour, enthusiasm and energy but also there was a dignity and maturity which befitted such an occasion. The Hall was filled with pride from the moment the students put on their new uniforms for the first time and led the priest through the capacity crowd of parents, teachers, fellow students, and invited guests. The students received awards for excellent achievement across the curriculum and distributed awards to teachers and non-academic staff for their contribution and support.
We already know that these students are going to achieve great success – a number of them came top across a region of 323 schools in the recent mock exams – but the ceremony also showcased so much talent outside the classroom from speakers, singers, dancers and actors all so confidently taking to the stage demonstrating skills of leadership, teamwork, cooperation and communication. There is no doubt that an education at The School of St Jude has changed the lives of these students and their families in a way that probably only Gemma dreamed of when the school first started.
Another exciting aspect of the ceremony was the coming together of so many groups of people who for many varying reasons have some interest in the school – including representatives from the St Jude Limited board, the East Africa Fund, the Secondary School Board and the Parent Committees. There were representatives from the District and the Regional Education Offices – who were able to see for the first time the school, its students, staff and facilities, and there were visitors from other schools, both staff and students, plus local businesses and colleges. It was great to see them together, in one room, sharing their interests, ideas and common passion for improving the quality of education. It is our hope that these links will continue to grow, especially as we move forward in to the next stage of development and begin to look for tertiary opportunities for our graduating students and ways of increasing our influence way beyond the walls of our campuses.
The F4 students are excellent role models to the rest of the school – hardworking, ambitious and very determined. In 2013 most, if not all, will return to the school to begin their pre-University 2 year Advanced Level studies. Here in Tanzania students have to select from a number of three subject combinations, plus Basic Applied Maths, General Studies, and at The School of St Jude, Religion and ICT. They are required to pass the F4 exams and, at The School of St Jude, to achieve a Div 1 or 2 – which basically means A’s and B’s in all subjects. This year the most popular combinations are those which include Maths, Physics and Chemistry – which bodes well for the future of the country given that any developing country needs good scientists. Other students are doing Business or Social Studies combinations.
Significant plans are underway for the commencement of the A Level programme. 20 new teachers have been appointed, all of whom are degree holders and who travelled from all over the country to interview at the school. They are all really excited to be joining the academic team and will be given time at the beginning of the year to plan, prepare and receive professional development. New appointments to the leadership team have been made, including a teacher to oversee the F5 students, a Career Guidance Counsellor and a very experienced mentor to develop a Student Resource Centre for helping students to find the most appropriate career pathways and tertiary opportunities. Four more Science labs and additional classrooms are being constructed and plans for a more mature boarding environment are being completed, along with access to private study facilities in the evenings.
The Graduation Ceremony may have marked the end of the first ten years of an excellent education for our F4 students, but it also symbolized the beginning of the next exciting chapter in the story of The School of St Jude.
