“There is nothing more exciting than seeing a woman doing something she is passionate about,” St Jude’s senior secondary (Form 6) student Emiliana said.

And she would know.

Emiliana and secondary (Form 3) student Neema are fresh from three weeks of non-stop excitement at the inaugural, invite-only Women in Science (WiSci) STEAM Camp.

The two were among 120 eager young minds from eight African countries and the US, who participated in intensive workshops run by international industry leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).

“I met different girls who are really passionate about science, and there was this lady, a mentor from Intel called Kay, who impressed me so much. When anything went really wrong with coding all the men would say ‘where’s Kay let’s bring Kay in here’,” Neema said.

“I was very inspired by her and two counsellors from Rwanda, Elodea and Anabella. Those ladies, they are only 19 or 20 and are in university; they are computer majors and they made me think I can do it if they have done it."

Sub-Saharan Africa lags behind the rest of the world when it comes to gender equality in STEAM fields. The UN’s 2013 MDG Report shows the gap increasing as female enrolment rates in STEAM drop at the secondary and tertiary levels.

Neema and Emiliana are bucking the trend and proving they have plenty of promise, by taking out two of the three prestigious prizes during STEAM.

The first week of the camp, coordinated by Microsoft, saw the students design multilevel computer games. It was Neema’s time to shine with her game being voted best of the week!

The second week had Intel build on the girls’ programming skills by being instructed in engineering robots, and the third, themed around entrepreneurship and design, saw Emiliana’s nous for problem solving awarded with a prize for creativity and innovation.

“We had to come up with a problem in society and show how we could use our knowledge of technology to solve it; in my group we solved a problem on deforestation which is a really big problem in Africa,” Emiliana said.

“Our focus was on Madagascar because in the last 20 years it has lost 70% of its trees; we designed a sensor, you could put in a tree and it could monitor around 400 other trees. When someone is trying to cut down a tree or burn in the area the sensor would go on and it would alert officials.”

Neema’s group project addressed the prevalence and under reporting of rape in South Africa.

“We decided to make an app to help people report rape cases. The app had GPS which can show you nearby hospitals and clinics, psychology resources and it had a place for psychologists to volunteer and talk to victims,” Neema said.

“For the final presentations, Janet Kagame came, and we also had a letter from Michelle Obama with encouraging words.”

After an overwhelming final day, it was a bittersweet farewell as the girls stayed up late in their dorms, singing, dancing, crying and hugging.

“We were lucky to get that experience at the camp and we promised to share what we learned at our schools and in our societies,” Neema said.

The girls are keeping in touch with their international peers via Facebook and as being official members of The United Nations Girl Up initiative. Girl Up engages adolescent women in the places where it is hardest to be a girl, empowering them to take action and transform their world.

Neema is currently putting together a programming club at Smith campus and is intent on pursuing computer science at university, while she and Emiliana are running a workshop on sensors and starting a GirlUp branch at St Jude’s.

“Because of STEAM, now I really want to follow my passion, I know I can do it and I want to encourage other girls to do the same,” Neema said.

Sponsor a student like Neema or Emiliana and help them achieve more.

Gemma Sisia, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Albert Einstein, Usain Bolt, Oprah Winfrey and Gandhi.

These are just some of the inspirational figures featured by students from around the globe in the Inspire>Aspire international poster competition.

St Judes’ student Penueli became an international finalist for her essay on Nelson Mandela, and our international winner Amani won with words inspired by our very own founder.

Following the theme of Global Citizens in the Making, our two finalists were picked from 55,000 entries from 30 countries.

“It is part of the school passion to create future Tanzanian leaders,” Amani said.

“I really wonder about Gemma Sisia. She is not even from Africa but she decided to help me, a stranger. Her heart is full of grace that’s why I chose her as my subject.”

Amani, who is in his final year of school, said he would like to do “at least” a year of community service after graduating to demonstrate his appreciation for his free, high-quality education.

“When I am well financially, I will sponsor some children,” the 21-year-old added.

Penueli, who is also in her final year, said she entered the competition for the challenge because she had never competed against students from other countries.

“I chose Nelson Mandela as he emphasized that we should take into consideration education to make change in our society,” she said.

“I really like his quote ‘Education is the most powerful tool that you can use to change the world’.”

The 19-year-old said “believing in yourself” is key to inspiring others.

“If you dare to do something and put much effort into it you will always be successful,” she said.

“I would like to help people around me and teach those who didn’t have the privilege of a quality education, like I have at St Jude’s. I would love to share the knowledge that I obtain from St Jude’s.”

The Inspire>Aspire Commonwealth Awards was held in conjunction with the Commonwealth Games in Scotland last year, and was promoted around the world.

“The exercise helps them to deepen their self-knowledge and self-awareness, as well as challenging them to define their vision for a better world and their aspirations for the future,” program director David Lorimer said.

The UK and international winners and finalists were published in the Inspire-Aspire Official Awards Magazine. Excerpts from the winning posters were published, so you can read part of Amani and Penueli’s work below.

International winner Amani, The School of St Jude:

“Gemma Sisia was born in Guyra in 1971. She started a school that provided a free and quality education to children who are smart but don’t have means of supporting themselves in education. I find her qualities such as being hardworking, kind, visionary, co-operative and many others made her stay focused and led her to turn the dream she had into reality. Because of her hard work and co-operation, she shared her dream with people and brought a great change in society. She makes me feel that any human needs values and qualities, and they need to be determined, kind and hardworking. Dreams that carry vision and co-operation have the strength to bring about a great change in society. I also pray that I am granted good qualities like hers so as to achieve bringing a wonderful change in my society.”

International finalist Penueli, The School of St Jude:

“‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” Nelson Mandela.

This quote was once given by the late Nelson Mandela and it inspires me a lot because it encourages people to try hard to acquire different skills, so a person will be able to apply themselves in solving various issues and fulfilling his or her goals in life. This is to say that education is the key to all closed doors that are to be opened to bring success and great achievements.”

Find out more about Inspire>Aspire. For more about Gemma’s story, click here.

Two talented students have enjoyed a slice of success with their project, Smart House with Raspberry Pi, winning a national science competition.

Achievement sparkled in the eyes of Venance and Martin as they returned from the annual Young Scientists Tanzania (YST) competition, held in Dar es Salaam in August.

Their project took out first place in the Technology category and won a special award from sponsor and major electricity supplier Songas, garnering the 17-year-old students trophies and around AUD$2000 cash and prizes for themselves and the school.

“(The experience) was so much more than what we expected, and it showed us what we can expect competing against the top students in Tanzania,” Martin said.

Venance and Martin said an automatic irrigation system was their toughest competition, but their confidence grew when they saw how well their entry was received.

Their project was one of only three in 120 that was seen by former Tanzanian President of Tanzania Ali Hassan Mwinyi, who gave them a glowing endorsement.

“He told us how happy he was to have good Tanzanian scientists to teach others,” a beaming Martin said.

The ingenuity of their Smart House with Raspberry Pi was first recognized at this year’s annual Science Day at St Jude’s, where it topped more than 100 entries

Their invention took almost a year to develop, and enables control of many household functions such as temperature, electricity supply and lighting remotely, by mobile phone. It was programmed using Raspberry Pi, a low-cost, compact device.

Their win means AUD$1000 (1.5million Tanzanian Shillings) worth of computers or books for the school, as well as cash prizes for the students and teachers.

At last year’s YST, St Jude’s students Ntekaniwa and Hashim won a special award for SMS Voting software and the year before Liston and Riziki won second prize in the Technology category for their Hybrid Generator project.

St Jude’s has emerged as a national leader in science, with this year’s inaugural Form 6 graduates placing in the top 10% of chemistry, physics and advanced mathematics in the national exams.

Now Martin and Venance have returned to St Jude’s with big plans.

“We would like to proceed with our talents (in science) and develop more projects,” Venance said when asked about what they would do with their hard-earned prize money.

They’ve already converted the school’s manual bell to automatic, and have begun developing an egg incubator at Smith campus.

“We need more technology in Tanzanian schools,” Martin said, explaining that projects like the incubator could provide employment for many.

Both students said they were very thankful for the help they’ve had, specifically mentioning former school technology teacher Brendan Lawlor, Smith campus Head of Science and ICT Nzinyangwa Mcharo, and Science and ICT teacher Denis Eziron.

With Venance and Martin still a few years off completing secondary school, we’re very much looking forward to what more these rising stars can show us.

Support a rising star today and sponsor one of our brilliant students.

Charismatic secondary student Erick turned one invitation to South Africa into a continental tour that will help him become a future leader of Tanzania.

He was so impressive during his scholarship-funded trip to the prestigious ALU Learning Lab in South Africa this year that he was invited to Mauritius, Uganda and Kenya.

“It was all about networking,” the final year student said.

“The key thing I feel proud of, of all the touring I did over those two months, is the network I’ve created.

“I met some great businesspeople (at ALU). They told me ‘if you want to benefit in life, you must dare to do something. No matter the case – if it is hard or you don’t have money, try to make an impact’.”

Erick seized their advice whole-heartedly.

When representatives who visited the Learning Lab invited him to their countries, he jumped at the chance.

Over the following weeks, he visited schools, businesses and technology centres in Mauritius, spoke to high school and university students in Uganda about “utilising technology to take advantage of the opportunities they can get” and had a two-day stop in Nairobi, Kenya, where he spoke to media schools about journalism and news reporting.

“There are a lot of good opportunities coming every day, but there are a lot of people who do not know how to take the risk upon those opportunities,” he said, adding that he was also invited to Burundi but had to decline for safety reasons.

Erick has been at St Jude’s since 2003, and in that time he has developed into a confident and community-focused future leader.

For the past three years he has run Africa Moja Youth Society, an NGO focused on youth empowerment, leadership, entrepreneurship and education.

“We have been moving around the northern part of Tanzania, trying to educate youngsters about these things,” Erick explained.

“We have been planting trees as well – we are planning on planting 1000, and so far we have planted 500 across Arusha. We have had good support from the city council and the mayor, who has offered trees and a plot of land where we can plant them.”

For now Erick plans to concentrate on his studies, but he envisions quite a future. Next year he plans to start an international business degree and launch an organisation called Leave Africa Better.

“It will be an organisation that will make an impact on society,” he said, adding he plans to expand and work in partnership with other networks.

“We can try to bring ourselves together. We can all work together for one solution to the problems facing Africa.”

Growing up in a poverty-stricken area of Arusha, Daniel dreamed about one day going a top international university and using his education to help his community.

Thanks to St Jude’s – he has that opportunity.

Daniel has been selected into the African Leadership Academy (ALA), where he will complete the two-year pre-university program alongside some of the top scholars on the continent.

“I’ve always dreamed of going to Harvard, now it’s possible,” Daniel said.

“Without The School of St Jude this wouldn’t have happened. I wouldn’t be ready for this opportunity without the education I have received.”

He follows in the footsteps of former St Jude’s student Liston, who was granted an ALA scholarship last year and recently returned to guide his former classmates through a weekend workshop.

Their achievements prove St Jude’s is succeeding in its mission to break the cycle of poverty by providing a free, high-quality education to Arusha’s brightest and poorest students.

“My parents don’t have much money so they would have never been able to afford to send me to a school like St Jude’s,” Daniel said.

“I would have gone to a government school and it would have been very hard to pass Form 4.”

Schools in Tanzania are under-resourced and most students face an uphill battle graduating from high school.

Of the 1.63 million Tanzanians that started school in 2002, fewer than 39,000 graduated from Form 6 this year. That is just 2.4%.

“At St Jude’s you are given a better opportunity,” Daniel said.

“You are given everything you need; food, quality teachers, plenty of books and resources.”

Daniel has become a shining example of the values St Jude’s teaches. He started a microfinancing program which helped 30 women in his local village and became a key part of his ALA application.

“It helped them raise money to get their kids through school and pay for their homes,” he said.

“We structured it in such a way to help everyone involved, not just one person.”

Daniel hopes to do similar projects when he returns to Tanzania after completing his schooling.

“When I finish I will come back to Tanzania,” he said.

“Where else can I go? This is my home. People look up to me. In my village people are looking up to me. They know I have a very great opportunity to help my village.”

Support a future leader of Tanzania. Sponsor a student like Daniel.

Less than a quarter of the secondary school-age female population in Tanzania attend school.

The School of St Jude is proving this can change.

International women’s empowerment facilitator, Ginette Collin, was blown away when she held a fortnight of after-school classes with our female secondary students.

“The St Jude girls were much more confident than I expected,” said Ginette, founder of the Malaysian-based non-profit PurpleLily project.

“When I asked a question everybody would raise their hands – they were really willing to participate in any activities and discussion. It was great.”

PurpleLily focuses on women and girls from low social economic backgrounds who are considered disadvantaged – an important area to improve in Tanzania, as UNICEF’s latest figures show only 24.4% of females attend secondary school in the country.

St Jude's has more than 50% female students, who are regularly proving they can achieve anything if they are given the opportunity.

A-Level student Omega was one of 70 who took part in the PurpleLily program, which featured classes on Goal Setting, Building Confidence, Communication and Positive Thinking.

“(It) was really helpful. It makes us confident and positive about ourselves, and helps us to be passionate and motivated to achieve our goals,” she said.

The PurpleLily program has proved to be the ideal partnership, with our own Purple Lily club now established and committee members currently being voting in.

It is hoped younger students will therefore also benefit from the program, particularly as the positives of giving women a good education are proven. Not only does it help break the cycle of poverty, educated women are less likely to die in childbirth or marry early and against their will, and are more likely to have healthy children that they send to school.

Ginette said the Positive Thinking and Building Confidence classes were particularly popular, and the students learnt a number of useful tools, like using a mantra or affirmation to build confidence.

“The PurpleLily workshops have helped me improve my confidence. I have learned about body language and how to maintain a positive mind. Some of the tools like the Mantra really help me to feel good about myself,” student Karen said.

Ginette was obviously thrilled the program had gone over so well.

“I just thought that (St Jude’s) was the perfect school to start with. It is so academically-focused, but also there’s also a really good culture there of working. I’m really happy I started with St Jude’s,” she said.

Ginette and her husband Brian sponsor a St Jude’s student and teacher, and Brian volunteered here during extended summer holidays in 2010 and 2011.

“We’ve been linked to St Jude’s for a long time, so I was happy to bring Purple Lily there for the first time in Tanzania,” she said.

We have been committed to equality since we opened in 2002. Find out more about our approach to fighting poverty through education.

To find out more about Purple Lily, go to: http://purplelily.org/