Quotes translated from Swahili
St Jude’s students are renowned for their aptitude and potential to emerge as the future moral and intellectual leaders of Tanzania. The School provides a platform for students to step up, work hard and utilise their skills. However, for many students, their primary influence and motivation for success, is the wellbeing of family.
The parents and caregivers of our students are usually the people who miss a day’s work to bring them to St Jude’s on Student Selection and Uniform Days, with the belief that their child is uniquely deserving of an opportunity to thrive academically. They volunteer at St Jude’s for special occasions. Some become dedicated members of the Parents Committee. They are grateful that a stranger believes in their child’s potential so much, that they’d make it possible through ongoing, generous financial support.
Liberia is a single mother whose life has been changed through her daughter’s opportunity to attend St Jude’s.
Elizabeth, currently in Form 5, entered Standard 1 at the School in 2007. When Elizabeth’s father abandoned the family a year earlier, Liberia was left to support Elizabeth and her older brother, Martin, by making uji — a maize-based porridge — for a local nursery school. The family lived in a small, rented house made of mud and sticks.
Alleviation of financial pressure thanks to Elizabeth’s academic scholarship at St Jude’s has meant that, a decade later, the family has gone from strength to strength.
“Our family has leapt to a better life. Elizabeth’s enrollment in St Jude’s meant I was able to save every penny that I earned for the last 11 years to buy a block of land, on which I have built a house for my children,” said Liberia, who now works as a cleaner in a government school.
Elizabeth’s new home is located approximately 10 kilometres from St Jude’s Sisia Primary Campus. To reach it, she must cross a fast-flowing creek and climb a steep hill. The house has no plumbing or electricity, but Liberia fills it with love and joy.
“I still remember how exciting it was when I took Elizabeth to [St Jude’s] testing day. I knew with Elizabeth’s grades in nursery school, that she would be successful. I was happy beyond measure when I found out she was accepted.”
“If we had not received help from St Jude’s, our lives would have been so difficult. I would have incurred expensive costs to help Elizabeth achieve her dreams and I don’t think I would be financially able to sustain this family, or even get my children to go to school at all.”
Liberia’s infectious laugh and smiling eyes conceal the struggles of her past, as she looks towards her daughter’s bright future, made possible through the gift of a free, high quality education.
“St Jude’s makes it possible for Elizabeth to reach her long-term desire to be an educated woman, and above all, make her dreams come true. I don’t dream of being dependent on her. All I want for her is to succeed and live a better life. To hold on to opportunities which will be fruitful for her.”
To girls and women around the world, Liberia offers poignant words of advice.
“Know your worth and understand that even though life can be tough, you must have power to make firm decisions. Do not be dependent to anyone in this world or surrender your worth to any man. A woman’s worth is immeasurable in this world. Take me for an example: as a mother, I refused to disown my children when my husband left. Have faith and never give up.”
When you sponsor an academic scholarship for one of our students, you create an opportunity for the entire family to prosper. Elizabeth’s education is currently half-sponsored.
Sponsor a student like her and see the ripple effect on an entire community.
The Conquerer - Yasintha, Form 5
Poverty, rejection, pain, worthless...
that's all I've been hearing about
The Woman
down the street.
She hushed her voice to listen to their provoking,
she tarnished her noise just to please their mocking.
She is a victim of pain, denial, trial,
all she ever knows is being exposed to
a world that's wild.
Why? Why? Why?
Why rip her heart from her chest and consume her?
Don't you know
when you insult a woman,
you insult the womb that carried you?
Who in the world told you
you can bite off the hand that feeds you? Fights for you?
They tell her breathing means she's alive...
...but breathing, for her, means she can
swallow air
long enough to survive.
But then, she rises above her pain, her sorrow,
brushes down her worry, getting herself in check,
always ready for tomorrow.
No way was she going to be stifled and
left to wither like a dying rose.
She cares for you, cries with you,
stands by you!
She is a mother, she is a wife, she is a fighter.
They call her 'Prey', they call her 'Nothing,
but I call her
'Beautiful', I call her 'Smart', I call her 'Caring', I call her 'Daring',
because she is special in every way.
She is a woman. She is The Conqueror.
Each year on March 8, International Women’s Day is commemorated globally. It presents an opportunity for people to celebrate the contribution females make to society, to stand in solidarity with females in need, and to raise awareness of gender equality issues which inhibit the advancement of women.
The theme for this year’s celebration, declared by the United Nations, was ‘Press For Progress’. St Jude’s students and staff were more than willing to raise the roof with words of wisdom and empowering songs at the inaugural International Women’s Day assembly.
Curated by founding members of St Jude’s new Marketing Club, with the support of Ms Pendo, Assistant Deputy of School Values and Welfare at Smith Secondary Campus, students were encouraged to reflect on inspiring females in their own lives, without whom they could not become strong, moral and intellectual leaders.
Zulfa, a Form 5 student, opened the ceremony with a stirring speech entitled My Voice is my Strength.
“With my voice, I am able to spread the word of equality, justice and liberty. I can decrease the rate of poverty by speaking against violence. I can make those who feel low, stand and rise again. It takes a voice to bring back life in areas where oppression has dominated.”
Following Zulfa’s emotive declaration, Yasintha, also in Form 5, took to the podium with a recitation of her original poem, The Conqueror.
“…She rises above her pain, her sorrow, brushes down her worry, gets herself in check, always ready for tomorrow. She is a burning fire. No way is she going to be stifled, left to wither like a rose. They call her ‘Prey’, they call her ‘Nothing’…but I call her ‘The Conqueror’.”
The assembly concluded with a spontaneous eruption of solidarity. Students in Forms 1 and 5 entertained the crowd with songs written by African women. To conclude, they beckoned staff, students and visitors to the stage. More than a hundred people jumped to their feet and joined the choir, raising their voices in collective celebration.
Inspired by the unique event, Mr Emanuel, School Registrar at Smith Secondary Campus, offered an impromptu vote of thanks to students and staff involved with organising the assembly, and some food for thought.
“It is impossible to imagine a world without women. They bring life. To all students, I pose this challenge: what will you do to change this world for the better? How will you make it possible for all females to thrive?”
Form 5 student and Marketing Club President, Lina, quoting her role model, Marianne Williamson, had the perfect response.
“’Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond all measure…we ask ourselves, ‘who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world.’”
You can help our inspiring change-makers reach their highest potential by sponsoring a student today!
Quotes amended in parts for best sense.
Some of our eager new secondary students are proving their dedication by participating in optional weekend English conversation lessons at Smith secondary campus.
Until beginning their studies at St Jude’s in January, the students had only been educated in Kiswahili at government primary schools throughout Tanzania’s Arusha region.
Starting secondary school is a high achievement in itself for these young people.
Passing their Standard 7 national exam at the end of primary school is sadly not the norm for many Tanzanian children who have to contend with class numbers of over 60 and walking long distances to and from school every day.
It is estimated that only 30% of secondary school aged Tanzanians are receiving an education.
But, our new Form 1s have one obstacle remaining: learning to speak fluent English.
Several St Jude’s international employees voluntarily travel to Smith secondary campus on Sundays, where they engage students in informal conversations, presentations and debates.
St Jude’s Community Relations and Welfare Coordinator, Tracey, devised the program after Form 5 student selection last year. She saw it as a way to complement the School’s formal academic and language support processes.
“Some students [during house checks] struggled to understand simple things said by foreigners — for example, ‘how old are you?’ or, ‘please sit here.’”
“These students, aged between 17-20, had done very well in their Form 4 exams, which are completed in English, so I felt that maybe they had not been exposed to foreign accents and different ways of saying things.”
“Hopefully by becoming used to hearing foreign accents, they will be able to make use of the opportunity to meet visitors to St Jude’s, who have experience in all sorts of professions which may interest our students.”
Lenatha and Goodluck, aged 13, participate in the conversation program, which has helped to improve their confidence.
“Speaking English is a great challenge for us,” Goodluck confirmed.
“Until now, I learnt English from repeating conversations foreigners had with me in the street around town. If we can speak English it means we have greater opportunities after school,” Lenatha added.
“The teachers are very good. I feel blessed to be at this school. In one sentence, I can say what St Jude’s means to me: it shows us who we are and it makes us proud,” Goodluck shared.
“In the villages we come from, St Jude’s is known as one of the best because the quality of education is high and it helps people who need it most.”
Goodluck’s mother, a waitress, is the sole parent of three children. Goodluck is the eldest child, with two younger sisters for whom he sets an excellent example.
A free, private education at The School of St Jude opens the door to higher education, giving Goodluck every hope of securing his dream job in the science or medical field.
With wisdom and insight beyond his years, Goodluck spoke of his ultimate goal.
“If I can finish school, I will provide a foundation for my family’s dreams and future. Life is very hard in this world, but I will help to make ours good.”
Lenatha is the beneficiary of an opportunity her own mother never had.
“My mother got high enough grades to go to secondary school, but her parents could not afford it, so she is really happy that I get the chance [to attend secondary school],” Lenatha said.
“Mum sells potatoes and tomatoes in a small shop. She teaches me that it is good to have some money, but money can be taken away.”
“Education is like the ocean; it never ends and it cannot be taken away from us.”
Our courageous new students are already making waves in their communities. Help St Jude’s fight poverty through education so that students like Goodluck and Lenatha can achieve their dreams: become a Form 1 sponsor today.
