It was a spectacular night —144 of our graduates gathering in celebration and recognition of where they have come from, where they are now, and where they are going.
The Alumni reunion dinner took place at Sisia Primary Campus on a Saturday evening. A throwback to their school days, graduates arrived in style – on the school buses they caught each day, some for more than a decade! Many graduates saw their return to St Jude’s as a true homecoming.
School Founder, Gemma Sisia, bursting with pride, officially opened the ceremony, hosted in the Sisia Primary Campus dining hall.
“It is amazing to see you all here, welcome back. You have already made a significant impact on the community in your own ways, and I hope you use tonight as an opportunity to reconnect over a delicious meal, and most importantly, to have fun together,” Gemma said.
Formal proceedings began with an awards ceremony, during which 16 graduates were acknowledged for their exceptional contributions to society and their personal achievements.
Enock, a 2015 graduate studying towards an Economics degree at Rochester University, was awarded for his continued school spirit and enthusiasm for St Jude’s.
“I have been a part of St Jude’s community for 15 years. It feels like home. I am thankful for this event, bringing us all together again with Mama Gemma. It is our responsibility to offer support in any way we can and spread the word about our school, the school which helped to raise us.”
Alex, St Jude’s first graduate to sponsor a St Jude’s academic scholarship, also received an award and echoed Enock’s sentiments during his acceptance speech.
“I know that all of us are grateful for the opportunities this school gave us. We must not take the opportunity for granted. I met Abie, the young boy who my donation supports, just a few days ago and that moment affected me in ways I couldn’t expect. St Jude’s is like a family and, through sponsorship, I remain connected,” he shared.
Alex studies Engineering and Pre-Medicine through a scholarship at Stanford University. One of the teachers he credits for his success is Smith Secondary Campus Headmaster, Mr Mcharo, who attended the event and enthusiastically spoke of his hopes for our graduates.
“St Jude’s produces some of the best young people in Tanzania. I always knew Alex would do great things. And to see students like Hosiana, a Beyond St Jude’s Scholar studying Medicine at the University of Dar Es Salaam, and achieving a GPA of 4.8 — we are overjoyed for her,” Mr Mcharo said.
Among the attendees were a number of current Form 5 students who had been volunteering with school activities that day. For them, attending the event was a chance to reconnect with their older peers and look with anticipation to their own bright futures.
“It is so inspiring [to see the graduates],” Form 5 student, Faith, grinned.
“I admire them greatly because they all have a huge heart, and the hope to give back to others. I know one day I will join them,” she insisted.
Will you join our impressive graduates in giving back? Empower young leaders to fight poverty through education and make a donation to St Jude’s.
Amani started at St Jude’s in 2005 when he was 10 years old. Throughout his schooling, he was well-respected by staff and students alike, and although he graduated from Form 6 in 2016, and moved to Zimbabwe for university last year, he has continued to inspire his classmates and younger students.
Amani is a shining example of how St Jude’s academic scholarships change lives.
Raised in a local orphanage, Amani grew up with many other children and thought, for a while, he might like to become a teacher because he enjoyed passing on skills and techniques he learnt from excellent staff at St Jude’s.
“The teachers at St Jude’s did more for us than most teacher’s in Tanzania. Learning well requires more than just having a book and resources, you also need strategies,” Amani reflected.
As Amani grew, he found his niche in science and mathematics subjects and has decided he would best contribute to society by becoming a medical practitioner in Tanzania.
“Tanzania requires excellence in the medical field and this way I will help people in great need. My dream is to open my own medical laboratory and create employment for people.”
Amani is well on his way to achieving the dream. He graduated from secondary school and earned a scholarship through the School’s partnership with the MasterCard Foundations Scholars at African Leadership Academy, which has enabled him to study a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science at Africa University in Zimbabwe.
Prior to beginning his university course, Amani participated in Beyond St Jude’s Community Service Year as an intern in our Beyond St Jude’s team. This valuable experience empowered him to demonstrate independence and work ethic.
“University is different from school, but St Jude’s made me feel prepared. They taught us always to be humble, but proud and because of that, I am so proud of who I have become. I am lucky to have many friends and they encouraged me to apply for university student elections, but I want to focus on my studies and just lead by my own example,” Amani said.
With wisdom beyond his 23 years, Amani is eager to use his knowledge to help others in need. In his summer break, Amani has returned to Tanzania to complete a Community Action Project for his university scholarship and is voluntarily teaching academic techniques, like those he learnt at St Jude’s, to children living in Arusha’s orphanages.
“We must respect everybody, whether they are older than us or not. People are equal and these children are my younger brothers and sisters. I would like to teach these children self-discipline so they can work hard and reach success, and be proud of themselves too. St Jude’s taught me that. I am so happy when I teach them because we all learn from each other,” he shared.
Amani recalls his Form 6 Graduation ceremony whenever he is looking to find inspiration and motivation.
“I could never have dreamed of going to university before I came to St Jude’s. I was just focused on getting to secondary school. Then I realised on the day of Form 6 Graduation that my dream was coming true."
“I felt so happy on Graduation Day. My sponsors came to the ceremony with my uncle. I felt like I had gone from having no parents, to having many! My sponsors were so familiar to me. They always wrote to me and gave me words of encouragement. I felt complete when I met them,” he smiled.
“I remember I was interviewed one day at school, and I said I wanted to grow up and be a good citizen and be able to financially support myself so I could give back. That is the big dream still.”
Amani’s almost there. In just a few years, he will graduate into a profession that will potentially see him helping thousands of Tanzanians. Supporters from around the world, who take our students hands, help them rise to meet their goals.
Give us your hand and sponsor an academic scholarship for the next young Amani!
The moment you step outside a St Jude’s school bus and into the grounds of Sisia primary campus, chances are, Irene and Wens will be among the first people to greet you with a ‘karibu sana’ (you’re very welcome) and broad smiles.
Irene and Wens’s confidence and attention to detail suggest they’ve spent years in training as Tanzanian tourism professionals, to prepare them for important roles in St Jude’s Visitor team.
Indeed, it’s taken 13 years of fieldwork for the dynamic duo to develop their thorough knowledge about The School of St Jude — first, as our students, and now, as 2017 graduates and participants in Beyond St Jude’s Community Service Year program!
The Community Service Year offers graduates an internship opportunity to teach in under-resourced government schools or work in various departments at St Jude’s, to gain work experience, increase confidence and help give back to their local community.
As interns in the School’s Visitor team, Irene and Wens help to prepare itineraries, lead school tours, translate conversations during our guests’ visits to students’ homes, chaperone excursions to government schools and Maasai communities, and guide visitors through the bustling streets of Arusha.
Irene and Wens are overjoyed that they have the opportunity to represent St Jude’s, but it isn’t a responsibility they take lightly.
“We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to express gratitude to sponsors, donors and visitors who come to St Jude’s, every day. No matter if you have heard about the School before or not, you are helping just by being here. You become a part of the school family,” Wens said.
“We had the chance to apply for an internship in a government school, but I really wanted to do something within St Jude’s as a way to show thanks.”
“Just to know that the people who sponsored us for more than 10 years — read our letters and saw our photos — that our stories were enough to inspire them to sponsor… I need to find a way to say ‘thank you’ for that,” Irene added.
“For all Beyond St Jude’s interns, whether you are teaching in a government school or doing a Community Service Year inside St Jude’s, it feels good knowing that even if we can’t give back to our sponsors in the same way, we are at least doing something for our society.”
“And, for our families too, they are proud to see us coming into St Jude’s office every day. It is like a flashback for them — remembering how we were as small children in 2005 and 2006 when we started Standard 1, and now as adults working here,” Wens shared.
Participants in Beyond St Jude’s Community Service Year develop professional skills and experience personal growth.
Wens is hoping to study Electrical Engineering when he starts university.
“In the Visitor team, I have learnt many things which will help me with my career. I know how to be organised and how to communicate with people from many cultural backgrounds.”
Irene has aspirations of becoming an international business leader.
“As a member of the Visitor team, we are already leaders. We are people’s hosts and all the information they receive about the School comes through our stories. We may not be interning in government schools, but I think this is another form of teaching.”
“There is no organisation that compares to St Jude’s. Coming here, you will see the full effect of a St Jude’s education. Visitors see how far their donation goes and how it can change our lives.”
If you would like to meet inspiring Beyond St Jude’s interns like Irene and Wens, be sure to book a visit to St Jude’s. Email us at visitor@schoolofstjude.co.tz
