When Joseph joined St Jude’s in 2018 as a Form 1 student, he never predicted that a simple break-time conversation with friends would spark a passion that would shape his future.
“A group of students were talking about Java, a programming tool I’d never heard of. I’m the kind of person who looks things up if I don’t understand them. So, I went to the library and started reading everything I could about computers,” recalls Joseph, who graduated in the Class of 2024.
Before joining St Jude’s, Joseph completed his primary education at a local government school in Arusha, where computers were something he’d only ever seen from afar.
“I had never even touched a computer before coming to St Jude’s. I’d only seen them in movies and on screens, where they looked really cool. I just fell in love with them,” he says.
Eager to learn more, Joseph began teaching himself the basics of programming, using every resource he could find in the school library.
“The books I was reading were all in English, and I was still learning the language at that time. But I just kept going. I really fell in love with it and continued to teach myself,” he says.
Fast forward to today, and Joseph’s passion has come full circle. As part of his Community Service Year (CSY) - where Form 6 graduates have the opportunity to take part in a year of community service - he is volunteering in St Jude’s Corporate Applications team, using his skills to tackle real-world challenges and help improve internal systems at the school.
One of his most impressive contributions has been the development of an automatic system that tracks and manages government parking fees; a crucial task for St Jude’s, which operates a fleet of more than 30 vehicles.
“When the school buses park outside the school, the government charges a parking fee. Previously, staff had to manually check each plate number online to calculate the monthly charges. This was a time-consuming job, especially with so many vehicles to manage,” explains Joseph.
Now, thanks to his innovation, the system now automatically retrieves all St Jude’s bus plate numbers from the government portal and generates a report – saving valuable time and reducing the risk of errors.
“We’ve been improving it based on feedback. I keep refining it with input from the team. I’m now working on how to store the data for the records,” adds Joseph.
With his CSY wrapping up in July, Joseph has his sights set on tertiary studies in computer science or financial technology, with plans to eventually merge the two fields.
“The CSY program has been amazing. I’m learning so much, and it’s opened up a lot of opportunities," he says.
“Doing CSY at the place where my passion for computers began, and being able to give back using the skills I’ve developed from my time here, is very rewarding. I’m excited for what the future will bring.”
A group of St Jude’s students and alumni recently participated in Arusha Innovation Week, joining changemakers across the region to tackle real-world challenges with bold ideas. Among them was David, an alum who won first place in the event’s prestigious pitching competition for his award-winning innovation - organic fertilisers made from human hair - earning him a spot at the national finals in Dar es Salaam this month.
Really great! I was very happy when they announced I had won. I love what I’m doing and I’m always thinking about ways I can share it with more people. There were 13 people in the pitching competition. We each did a two-minute pitch in front of the panel. I prepared a pitch deck the day before. The same event also happened in many regions across Tanzania, and all the regional winners will meet in Dar es Salaam for the final competition on 12 May.
Make sure you connect with both the audience and the panel. You can do this by having a strong opening that makes your pitch stand out. I do this by starting with a question or coming up with an engaging opening line. This gets their attention immediately. I also talk about the most important thing first as time is limited. The rest of the information can always be put into the Q&A.
So many things!I loved seeing everybody’s different ideas. The audience was full of innovation experts, and I got to meet them all afterwards. I was also so happy to see people supporting young innovators. Young people need a platform to show their ideas.
There is going to be a big space to exhibit everyone’s ideas, and we will get to meet lots of people from different organisations and institutions. It’s also being held in the same place where, seven years ago, we competed in a national science competition after showcasing this very project at St Jude’s Science Fair. There, we came second among secondary schools from across Tanzania. So, it’s going to be a very full-circle moment.
As a young mind, you have to think of future problems. Try to identify the problems that people might face in the future, not just the ones we see today. And keep going! You’ll always be happy waking up to something you love doing.
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.”
Like most students completing secondary education at St Jude's, Irene opted to join the Beyond St Jude's Scholarship Program (BSJSP). The BSJSP allows secondary school graduates to give back to the community as volunteer teachers in understaffed government schools or in various placements throughout St Jude's. Those who successfully complete their community service placement may then be eligible to receive a BSJSP scholarship to pursue higher education.
"I spent a year teaching English and Civics at a local government school in Arusha town, not far from St Jude's," shares Irene, who is currently a university scholar. "To be honest, my volunteering experience was good. I enjoyed teaching and being one of the adults that students can look up to," she adds.
Having spent over 12 years as a student at St Jude's, Irene understood how far a supportive learning environment could go to enhancing academic performance. Thus, she was particularly excited at the opportunity to share her knowledge and skills with others.
"I was privileged to attend St Jude's, which offers a wealth of resources, including computers, books, sports facilities, and educational trips, for an exceptional learning experience. But others weren't so lucky and this became clear during my Community Service Year (CSY)," narrates Irene.
She noticed that there was only one water tap for the entire school of 600+ students. Students had to wait in long queues just to fill a cup of water. There wasn't enough water to properly conduct science experiments for students, clean the school's infrastructures, and maintain the environment. Irene was deeply disturbed by the problem and resolved to find a lasting solution for it.
"The volunteering experience left me with the belief that even the smallest actions can have great value to the community. This inspired my passion for volunteering and helping my community in any capacity I can," reflects Irene.
Soon, after completing her community service year, Irene won a scholarship grant to pursue higher education in neighbouring Kenya. She was fortunate to join the same university with her long-time friend and fellow St Jude's scholar, Queen.
Like Irene, Queen had joined St Jude's as a Standard 1 student in 2007 and went on to spend the next 13 years at the school. One of her most favourite earliest memories at St Jude's was being mesmerised by the size of the school.
"I was blown away by how big the school was, from the playing fields, to the library, dining hall, and the school buses. I was shy at first because I couldn't speak much English. But it all changed within a few years; I became fluent and fell in love with my favourite subject, history," she explains.
Upon completing her secondary school education, she too, joined the Beyond St Jude's Scholarship Program (BSJSP) and spent a year as a volunteer teacher at a government school in Arusha. When the pair linked up in university, they began looking into how they could support less fortunate students back in Tanzania.
"As part of our scholarship, each of us was entitled to a one-time funding to support a project of our choice within the community. We discussed this amongst ourselves and agreed to install a water system at the government school that Irene had once volunteered in as a teacher," explains Queen.
With support from St Jude's and the external funding, the pair financed the construction of a water system at the school, which involved pumping water from a source 900 metres away. They also installed several drinking water stations throughout the school and water taps in the toilets and laboratories.
"It's a dream come true for us, to give back and create a better learning environment for others," shares Irene passionately.
St Jude's alumni continue to embrace the school's values of Respect, Responsibility, Kindness, and Honesty whenever they go. Through the Alumni Association, they regularly give to support the school financially and volunteer their time and expertise during school events. Beyond St Jude's, they are active within their communities, organising orphanage visits, launching businesses, providing employment to others, and so much more.
Hilda Charles is no stranger to pushing boundaries. As an IT Assistant at St Jude’s, she is a trailblazer in a field where women are often underrepresented. From an early age, she was drawn to problem-solving and creativity - two qualities that led her to pursue a career in technology. Today, she reflects on her journey, the challenges she has faced, and her vision for the future of women in tech.
What inspired you to pursue a career in the tech industry, and how did your journey begin?
I was inspired to pursue a career in the tech industry because of my love for problem-solving, creativity, and the thrill of working with new technologies. I’ve always been driven by the desire to make a positive impact on society through innovation. After completing my O Level education, I decided to study Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering in college, where my journey in the tech industry truly began.
As a woman thriving in technology, what challenges have you encountered, and how have you overcome them?
Women in tech often face gender biases and stereotypes, such as the misconception that technology is a male-dominated field. This sometimes means being underestimated or having to work harder to prove ourselves. Overcoming this requires excelling in our fields, seeking mentors and role models, and advocating for equal opportunities. Additionally, networking with other women in tech and joining supportive communities helps build resilience.
What advice would you give to young women aspiring to enter the tech field?
For young women aspiring to enter the tech field, there’s a world of opportunity waiting. Believe in your abilities. Start early and keep learning—tech evolves quickly, so lifelong learning is essential. Develop strong communication skills, as technical expertise is important, but so is collaboration. Lastly, be persistent and don’t be afraid to fail—every setback is a learning experience.
How do you see the role of women evolving in the tech industry over the next few years?
The role of women in tech is evolving rapidly. In the coming years, I hope to see more women in technology, breaking the stereotype that it is a male-dominated field. This shift will create a greater community impact.
Every year, St Jude’s conducts health checks for its 1,800 students across three campuses to identify any health concerns, monitor existing conditions, and tailor support for those with specific needs. This year’s Health Check team included some familiar faces, with three St Jude’s alumni returning to give back to the very place where their journeys began.
For Nadia, Class of 2019, coming back was a full-circle moment. “It feels special to come back and contribute to the same process that helped me so much,” she says. “I remember the medical professionals from my own health checks when I was a student, and thinking ‘I’d love to do that one day!”
Nadia joined St Jude’s as a Standard 1 student in 2007 and is now in her fifth and final year of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which consists of a year doing practical internship at Mount Meru Hospital, not far from St Jude’s Sisia Campus. Despite her demanding schedule, Nadia sought special permission to take two weeks of leave from her program to participate in the health checks, knowing it was an opportunity she couldn’t let pass by.
“My internship year is supposed to be uninterrupted, but I was fortunate the hospital team was very supportive and granted me the leave so I could be here,” notes Nadia, who says her passion for pursuing a career in healthcare was forged during her time at St Jude’s.
“I’ve always dreamed of returning to give back, and it’s everything I hoped it would be. I’ve seen students who were in Form 1 when I was in Form 6 who said, ‘Oh Nadia, look at you now!’ and I told them, ‘Everything is possible. You just have to believe in it,’ she says.
Returning alongside Nadia was Erneus, Class of 2020, who vividly recalls his first health check after joining St Jude’s in 2018 as a Form 5 student. “I was so happy as I had never had a check-up like that before. We were advised on how to improve our health, and it was crucial for me. It’s very fulfilling to now be a part of something that helped me in the past.”
After graduating with a degree in Biotechnology and Public Health in 2024, Erneus felt there was no better way to kickstart his career than applying his skills at the place that helped shape his future.
“It’s my first time volunteering in the Health Check team, and I’m learning a lot. It is so rewarding to see the students’ reactions and learn from an international cohort of experts,” says Erneus.
“I have been working in the vision team, helping assess students’ eyesight to identify any issues that could affect their learning ability. If not detected, these issues can grow and start to impact a student’s education, which is why the health checks are so important,” he says.
Like Erneus and Nadia, Winniefreda, from the Class of 2019, also volunteered in the vision team this year. She describes her return to St Jude’s as a homecoming. “I spent so much of my life here,” she says. “Being back feels like coming home. St Jude’s is where I learned and grew, and now I’m able to return the care that I once received.”
In 2023, Winniefreda completed her Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery. She now works at a hospital in Arusha and doubles as a private nurse, providing home care as part of the government’s clinical nursing program.
“It’s incredible to see how much the school has grown. What excites me is knowing that we’re helping students who could very well be the next generation of health professionals. Some of the students we helped this year could be in our position in the future. That’s the power of St Jude’s. It always comes back around,” she says.
Nadia, Winniefreda, and Erneus are prime examples of how a St Jude’s education creates a ripple effect, coming full circle to give back to their communities and inspire future generations.
