Like most students joining St Jude's for the first time, Irene was blown away by her initial impression of the school. The highly resourced environment and the various opportunities at St Jude's motivated her to explore new interests and hobbies.
"I started at St Jude's when I was in Standard 2, so almost everything was a new experience," recalls Irene. "I loved playing in the sand after school hours, picked up volleyball as a hobby, and ooh, the school buses – I loved them so much," she adds with a smile.
Irene went on to spend the next 12 years at St Jude's, excelling in academics while developing crucial leadership and communication skills. She was an active member of several clubs, including public speaking, debate, and the book club. After completing her secondary education, she promptly joined the Beyond St Jude's Scholarship Program (BSJSP), where she spent a year in community service, further honing her leadership abilities.
Her efforts and determination paid off, and Irene won an international scholarship to pursue higher education in neighbouring Kenya.
"I learned many things throughout my time at St Jude's, and one that has always stuck with me is the responsibility to give back and make a positive change in my community," reflects Irene. "As I left to pursue my childhood dream of becoming a businesswoman, I knew it would involve the community somehow," she adds.
Fuelled by her spirit of hard work and resilience, Irene wasted no time in turning her dream into reality. She capitalised on her skills and experience from St Jude's by earning a Bachelor's degree in International Business Administration. After university, she went straight into entrepreneurship, putting her knowledge to good use by launching a clothing business in her hometown of Arusha. Within just a few years, Irene's business skyrocketed, opening job opportunities to others.
Did you know?
Irene is one of the many graduates from St Jude's whose businesses are providing employment in the community. Since our first graduates in 2015, 30 St Jude's alumni have gone on to start their businesses and, in the process, employed 250 people.
Irene, however, was far from done. In due time, she expanded on her positive impact on the community.
"I met a friend who had a successful recovery from addiction," Irene narrates. "The more I learned about his journey and experience, the more I was inspired. After many discussions and research, we teamed up to start our own rehabilitation centre here in Arusha," she adds proudly.
The first days weren't easy for Irene. She enrolled in a special NA (Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous) program to better understand addiction while multitasking between her business and getting the rehab program off the ground.
"Though quite challenging, it was worth it," reflects Irene.
Today, the centre has 30 residents recovering from different types of addiction. Her program follows a holistic approach to helping individuals achieve lasting recovery, focusing on mental wellness, emotional support, group therapy, and spiritual guidance as part of their daily sessions. Irene oversees the entire operation, ensuring everything runs smoothly. She routinely stays in touch with the residents' families, updating them on their progress.
"Over 68% of those who seek help through our program achieve sobriety and go on to lead productive lives," remarks Irene. "One of our managers at the centre was once a resident here who achieved full recovery and is now helping others do the same," she adds proudly.
Irene and her partner plan to expand their operations to include vocational training to equip their residents with practical skills to make a living once they leave the centre. Despite the big plans, Irene remains focused, taking it one day at a time with her mantra: "Just for today."
"It means dealing with what is in front of me today. When tomorrow comes, we'll sort it out with the same weight as the present," she explains. "It's one of the many things I learned through the NA program," she adds.
Irene's journey reflects the values of kindness and respect, which are core to St Jude's. Her story showcases the ripple effect of education and how it can empower communities to achieve and do more. You can support St Jude's by spreading the word about our stories and impact in fighting poverty through education.
A St Jude's alum from three years ago, Livingstone has recently graduated from university and is already managing a thriving business he co-founded as a student. His story is one of determination, confidence, and daring – a true personification of St Jude's motto: Challenge yourself.
Livingstone's love for entrepreneurship goes back to his student days at St Jude's. While in secondary school, he teamed up with a friend to start a poultry business, marking the start of an exciting entrepreneurial journey. Over the years, Livingstone explored several ventures in various industries, such as food and agriculture.
"I am grateful that I was able to start my entrepreneurship journey from a young age. This provided me with many opportunities to learn from my mistakes, build my confidence, and explore my interests," reflects Livingstone.
St Jude's holistic approach to education provided Livingstone with an ideal space to cultivate his skills. The extracurricular activities at the school, including the Entrepreneurship Club and the promotion of student-led initiatives, create a fertile ground for students like Livingstone to develop and pursue their business ideas.
"At St Jude's, they teach us to use our talents and skills to create solutions to existing problems within our communities," explains Livingstone. "As an aspiring entrepreneur, this opens up opportunities to develop businesses out of the solutions," he adds excitedly.
A good application of this mindset came during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. As with most cities, residents of Arusha limited their movements, inspiring Livingstone's next business idea.
"I launched a food delivery business that became very successful," says Livingstone. "At its peak, I was selling up to 50 plates a day of makande (a traditional Tanzanian meal of beans and maize)," he adds proudly.
After completing his secondary school education, Livingstone joined the Beyond St Jude's Scholarship Program (BSJSP), which supports graduates with tertiary education. While at university, Livingstone launched his most successful business yet.
"I noticed that students at the university wanted to eat healthily, but they didn't have much choice because they were busy," explains Livingstone. "So, my business partner and I came up with a brilliant idea of delivering healthy, nutritious porridge in takeaway cups around campus," he adds.
Livingstone put all his marketing and management skills behind this idea. He spent weeks researching and developing a signature formula for his product, followed by special branding and free offers to first customers. Within only 13 weeks, the business grew tenfold, enabling Livingstone to expand its operations and employ others to assist with production and supply chain.
"It became so popular that even my lecturers were calling in to place their orders," says Livingstone with a smile. "More and more people were replacing their morning breakfast with a handy cup of porridge," he adds proudly.
The business opened up more opportunities for Livingstone and his business partner. The pair were provided an office at the university's Business StartUp Centre, a special incubation program for promising entrepreneurs and start-ups on campus. As the business grew, so did his reputation, and soon enough, Livingstone began receiving invitations to workshops, seminars, and spaces for emerging entrepreneurs within and outside the campus.
"I had to figure out how to balance my time as a student and an entrepreneur wisely," says Livingstone. "This experience hasn't just been about building a successful business but my character as well."
Livingstone recently graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Insurance and Risk Management. He plans to continue growing his business and has expanded his products to include porridge flour, soya milk, and tomato paste. His strong business acumen, determination, and strong foundation at St Jude's will surely make him a successful entrepreneur.
At St Jude’s, we love visitors! This is why we have a dedicated Visitors team to ensure everyone who visits the school has the best experience. If you visit St Jude’s, you’ll most likely be greeted by Maria, a St Jude’s alum currently working with the team. Learn what it’s like to visit the school and see how we fight poverty through education.
What do you usually do as part of the Visitors team?
In a sentence, our work is to give our visitors a fulfilling experience of the school, the Tanzanian culture, and life in Arusha, Tanzania. We tailor each visitor’s itinerary to meet their needs and expectations throughout their time with us. This involves quite a bit of planning and coordination with other teams within the school to ensure a personalised and holistic experience.
What does a typical visit to St Jude’s include?
The school tour is always fun. St Jude’s has a rich history, being over 20 years old, so there is a lot to explore! Other activities may include sitting in on a class with students, such as a music or art class, attending a school assembly, cooking lessons, playing sports with the students during an extracurricular activity, and much more.
Longer itineraries may include a visit to the Maasai Boma, which is a rich cultural experience, a coffee tour, and a visit to a student’s home.
What is a favourite activity for visitors at St Jude’s?
Home visits are usually the highlight for most visitors. This is when a visitor can experience the life of our students by visiting one of their families. It really helps visitors connect with our mission of fighting poverty through education.
Other favourite activities include tours of our on-campus art gallery and classroom sessions.
How does it feel coming back to St Jude’s?
It feels great to be back! I graduated from St Jude’s in 2016, and it’s inspiring to see how far we’ve come. Showing visitors around the classes and places where I used to study brings back a lot of memories and gratitude.
As an alum, some students look up to me for inspiration, so I always strive to be a good example.
How can people visit St Jude’s?
Just send us an email! We are happy to help plan your itinerary to ensure you have the best experience with us. We accept overnight, day, and even drop-in visitors. So, even if you are just passing through Arusha and only have a few hours to spare, we’d be happy to show you around!
After more than 12 years at St Jude's, Tabitha was ready to embark on her next adventure – pursuing her dreams at university. So, in 2020, 22-year-old Tabitha travelled to Tabora, a town in central Tanzania, for her tertiary studies. But as she soon found, the transition wasn't easy.
"I have always been a big city girl," says Tabitha, who, until this time, had spent her entire life in Arusha, one of Tanzania's biggest cities and a vibrant tourist hub. "Tabora felt small and didn't resemble Arusha at all. My first impression of the place was a little underwhelming," she adds.
Nevertheless, Tabitha embraced the change. Later, she realised that the town's rural, remote setting was the perfect place to put her skills and knowledge to good use.
"In retrospect, Tabora was exactly where I needed to be to make the change I wanted to see," reflects Tabitha. "I've always been passionate about helping special groups within the community; specifically those denied access because of their disabilities."
In just three years, Tabitha went from a novice university student in a new town to an inspiration in the community. She established a reputable nursery and daycare centre that caters to children under the age of seven, including those with disabilities and learning challenges.
"It all started from a deep desire to help children in need, especially those with disabilities," reflects Tabitha. "I noticed that these children were not being taken to school because their parents felt as though they were wasting money. So, I figured there needs to be a daycare in the community where these parents could see their children thriving as much as the other children that go to school," she adds passionately.
Her business started in 2022 with just five students. Tabitha's resolve to make the centre a vibrant and special place for children made it stand out. Her innovative approach to childcare and education, including the use of interactive games, movies, and songs, began making waves in the community. By the end of 2023, the number of children had risen to 20, 10 of whom had already progressed to primary school.
"My best highlight is seeing my students grow in character and academically," says Tabitha proudly. "Students from the centre not only continue to thrive in their primary schools, but they are also setting the bar for academic performance and good behaviour," she adds.
In Tanzania, there persists a negative attitude towards individuals with disabilities, resulting in parents often hiding their children from public view. This deprives them of education and opportunities to socialise with their peers. Tabitha's mission is to bridge this gap and extend educational opportunities to more children with disabilities.
"It's not always easy to convince parents to take their children with disabilities to school," says Tabitha. "But when they see children with similar circumstances at the centre happy and flourishing academically, it becomes easier to break down some of those negative notions associated with them," she adds.
Tabitha is currently in her final year of university, pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Education in Special Needs. She is one of the many alumni from St Jude's putting her skills to good use and impacting the community. Tabitha hopes to use her education to continue breaking down barriers and make education accessible to all children.
Balancing academics and athletics isn't easy, but Judith, a St Jude’s alum and university scholar, is excelling at both. She is currently one of the top-performing students in her university, with an impressive GPA of 3.8 out of 4, and an ace basketball player who has won national and international awards on multiple occasions. Despite her rising stardom and flourishing career opportunities, Judith still remembers where it all began.
“It was at St Jude’s that I was first exposed to a lot of sports and opportunities that laid a foundation for my academic and basketball journey,” reflects Judith.
A novice player when she joined St Jude’s, Judith became an instant sensation on the basketball court and quickly rose through the ranks, participating in national and international competitions. Her dedication to sports and impressive academic track record earned her an international scholarship at the United States International University - Africa (USIU) in neighbouring Kenya.
“While at university, I wasted no time and joined the basketball team which was already making waves in the highly competitive Kenya Division One league,” says Judith.
She quickly became a regular starter and key player on the team. Within two years, Judith helped her team win the Division One championship, secure a promotion to the Kenyan Premier League, and qualify for the world university championships.
“Qualifying for the world university championships was huge as it’s one of the highest university sports competitions in the world,” explains Judith. “Playing basketball on the world stage was a dream come true for me and it wasn’t long before scouts began taking notice of my talent,” she adds.
Judith was recruited by Equity Bank basketball club, a Kenyan Premier League powerhouse making her the team’s youngest player. In her first season, Judith played at the Africa Women's Basketball League (AWBL), one of the highest club competitions for African teams.
“One of my great moments during the competition was when I scored a three-pointer at the buzzer, earning my team a crucial win in a game that was tied at 73 with only five seconds to go!” says Judith. “I was also the top scorer of the game with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists,” she adds proudly.
As of 2024, Judith is currently the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Kenya Universities Sports Association (KUSA) competitions, solidifying her promising basketball career. Despite her success on the basketball court, Judith continues to excel at her academics. She maintains an impressive academic record and has been on the Dean’s List (students with outstanding GPAs) since her enrolment at the university.
“Out of almost 40 Tanzanian scholarship recipients at her university, Judith consistently ranks number one academically, followed by Agnes, also a St Jude’s alum,” says Vivian, St Jude’s Special Programs Senior Manager, who looks after the Beyond St Jude’s Scholarship program.
“She is a great example to students back at St Jude’s that they too can excel at both sports and academics,” she adds.
Judith is also a proud ambassador of St Jude’s wherever she goes and a great example of the school’s motto: challenge yourself. Her dedication, hard work and incredible discipline leaves behind a legacy for many aspiring students to follow her trail.
Every year, St Jude’s sends thousands of letters inviting high-achieving students across three regions of Tanzania to apply for a scholarship. To achieve such a daunting task, St Jude’s incredible network of Community Service Year (CSY) volunteers step up. This March, the volunteers hand-delivered over 2,600 letters to 300 school headmasters inviting their top-performing students to apply for a Form 5 scholarship at St Jude’s.
In Tanzania, the final two years of secondary school are called Advanced Level (A Level); Form 5 and 6.
In this month’s Q & A, Grace, a CSY currently volunteering at the Community Relations team at St Jude’s shares her recent experience in letter delivery.
My main role is to assist the team in various tasks and activities to ensure the Scholarship Application Day runs smoothly. Recently, I’ve helped my team in coordinating letter distribution in different areas.
My involvement is two-fold: I assist in planning, coordinating, and corresponding with fellow CSYs on the field to address challenges and issues that require follow-up or consultation.
On the other hand, I also participate in letter distribution with fellow CSYs and travel to many schools to personally deliver invitation letters.
It was an adventure! There are always challenges with navigation and roads particularly with the unpredictable weather – we saw it all this time around! We had to use different forms of transportation, such as the bus, motorcycles and bicycles, walking, and even hiked to get to some schools. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and a privilege to be a part of what’s happening behind the scenes in the scholarship process.
Firstly, as St Jude’s graduates, we are living proof of the school’s mission, so when people see us, they can visualise the opportunities and potential that await their children or students when they join St Jude’s.
Secondly, we know a lot about the school! So we can answer questions and clarify to people who may have questions.
I only remember there being so many of us! And I feel very lucky to have secured a place!
