Flomena and her family live in a two-room mud house, nestled beside a creek on the outskirts of Arusha city.

Her mother, Agape, works on a farm, while her father, Aloyce, works as a security guard at a local convent. However, their combined income is not enough to provide for their three children.

Flomena was selected to join The School of St Jude in 2017 as a new Standard 1 student, when she, along with hundreds of others that year, applied for an academic scholarship.

Flomena passed the initial academic tests with flying colours, and when our staff conducted a poverty assessment of her home, it was clear that Flomena’s family deserved an opportunity for their intellectually gifted child to receive a scholarship to St Jude’s.

Already, the family’s life is starting to improve.

“Because we do not have to pay school fees for Flomena, we have saved a little money to buy some more chickens. Flomena is starting to speak English well and she can teach us, too,” said Aloyce.

He also shared an exciting dream that may come to fruition in the near future.

“We have finally saved enough and bought some [cement] blocks to start building a better house soon,” said Aloyce.

Moving out of a mud or wooden house and into a more solid dwelling is merely a pipeline goal for many Tanzanians. It is difficult for disadvantaged families to save funds to purchase simple building supplies, when more pressing concerns, such as feeding children, paying school fees and supporting frail relatives, take priority.

On top of all this, it can take many years in Tanzania for a small home to be built to completion.

Azael, Standard 3, and his family, understand this all too well. Like Flomena, Azael lives in a house made of mud and sticks. Thanks to the support his family receives from St Jude’s, they have made a start on building a house made of bricks, right next to their current home.

It’s a huge step up in terms of security and sustainability for years to come. Azael’s mother, Ester, beamed with pride as she explained what St Jude’s support means to her.

“I have have been able to buy a small calf that is growing. Little by little, we are building a new house made of bricks. We can save money, we are very grateful,” she expressed.

“The big changes I have seen in Azael, is that he is able to speak English very well. It is a very big change because before [attending] St Jude’s, he could only speak Kiswahili. This change will help him in his future,” Ester added.

Year by year, your support of our students’ education makes a much bigger impact. While it empowers poor, bright students, it also gifts families with the tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty.

Flomena and Azael’s families, quite literally, are building foundations for a brighter future… because of you.

When Zahra, Standard 6, danced her way out of the school gates on Uniform Day in 2015, she knew she had received a precious gift. 

“I remember my first day, I was so happy, my Mama was crying. We knew this was my golden chance to have a good future,” she explained. 

“Because of St Jude’s, I have learnt new skills and learnt about entrepreneurship. I can reach my dream of becoming an entrepreneur one day. It will be good to own a business in Tanzania, my big dream is to be a leader,” Zahra smiled. 

Zahra is the only child in her family. Her father earns a small wage driving a motorcycle taxi. Her mother was previously employed as a house-maid, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been stood down from work. 

“Life has been tougher since coronavirus started. When Mama lost her job I was scared, because some of our needs cannot be met. Only Baba (father) is working now.” 

Although the impact of COVID-19 presents challenges for students, particularly while schools remain closed, St Jude’s families have expressed heartfelt gratitude for additional support. 

“We were so happy and thankful to the school. Mama was smiling a lot. The school did not forget us,” Zahra shared. 

When asked what she loves most about attending St Jude’s, Zahra paused and, giggling, tipped her head towards the rainbow-coloured play equipment. 

“I love everything. My dreams can come true.” 

Christopher, also in Standard 6, echoes Zahra’s expression. 

Christopher lives in a small mud house on the outskirts of Arusha City, with both parents and one younger sister. 

“One of the best things I can do is help my family at home using what I learn at St Jude’s,” Christopher said. 

Christopher’s mother earns a small living as a tailor, while his father works on construction sites. Like Zahra’s parents, their incomes have been compromised due to COVID-19.

“Not many people are leaving the house to bring Mama things to sew. As for my father, he is only working four hours per day, not full days. I feel bad for the situation, but at least the corona pack [COVID-19 Family Care Package] helped us,” he expressed. 

Christopher dreams to be a doctor so that he can help protect Tanzanians against infectious diseases. 

Because of you, Christopher is well on the way to reaching that goal.

“Before St Jude’s, I used to go to government school. Here [at St Jude’s], I can take school buses. We eat good lunch. My sponsors sometimes send presents, they really help my family. My parents are happy because they know I am safe at school.” 

The final week of April, 2020 made history for The School of St Jude. It was a week that taught us the true tenacity of our school community. It taught us that, in times of crisis, there’s nothing more important than lending a hand. It reminded us the value of our fiercely loyal supporters.

Ironically, even though we cannot be physically close during the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve never felt more connected. We have you to thank for that.

When, Founding Director, Gemma Sisia, launched a mini-appeal to raise funds for COVID-19 Family Care Packages, she couldn’t have prepared for the solidarity expressed by our sponsors and donors.

The idea to assemble packages came to Gemma when a government decree was issued, declaring indefinite closure of schools.

“I’ve always said, ‘St Jude’s has the best supporters in the whole world!’” Gemma commented.

“Yet again, they’ve proven this true. Even though many of them are suffering, they’ve still been willing to help us address the pandemic,” she added.

Within a week of the idea’s inception, the vast majority of staff were on the task, assembling 2,000 COVID-19 Family Care Packages. The packs contain staple foods: rice, maize and beans. They also contain soap, bleach, sanitiser and instructions on how to make a mask at home. Individual home study packs and exercise books were included, too.

Each of our students and Community Service Year (CSY) interns received a package, which provides additional means for our families to protect themselves against COVID-19.

In our greatest operation of ‘divide and conquer’, staff and CSY interns criss-crossed Northern Tanzania over two days, distributing COVID-19 Family Care Packages along 29 school bus routes.

Each team returned with heartfelt stories of gratitude, humanity, and connection in a time of separation.

Head of Beyond St Jude’s, Vivian, told of a particularly moving moment that conveys the wonderful work of the school.

Vivian and her team boarded one of St Jude’s iconic buses in the early hours of the morning on Saturday 2nd May. Soon after, they pulled into a nearby, densely populated village to deliver packages to our families. The distribution team was greeted with grateful applause and cries of ‘Mungu akubariki’ – God bless you.

“I did not quite realise just how much this support was needed and appreciated by our families. It was a privilege to be able to offer a little extra help,” said Vivian.

For many people within Tanzania, maintaining social distance is challenging. Our poorest civilians rely on crowded public transport to travel to and from markets, selling produce from dawn to dusk, earning a minimal wage. This reality is uncomfortably close to home for the parents of our students, including Mama Nelson, who had a particular impact on Vivian.

“Mama Nelson’s child studies at Smith Secondary Campus. She sells dagaa (packaged, dry sardines) by the roadside. The family lives below the poverty line. When I passed her the package, tears filled her eyes,” Vivian shared.

Mama Nelson expressed sincere thanks to St Jude’s, in a profound exchange the distribution team will not soon forget.

“You cannot imagine how this is going to help me,” Mama Nelson expressed.

“I have been sending my children to sleep on a diet of maize porridge only for one week. Now, I can feed our family.”

Your continued support has not only ensured full stomachs, but full hearts. Closed borders have no bearing on the impact of St Jude’s international family, nor the inspiring example it sets for the world.

Rickson has always enjoyed putting himself in other people’s shoes.

When he was a little boy, he and his brother Reuben would escape to a room in their house which housed their father’s tools and, mimicking their Dad, they’d pretend to fix household objects.

Now, the 21-year-old gets to fulfil his passion for learning about others as an intern with the St Jude’s Visitor Team as part of his Community Service Year. Every day he meets different people from different parts of the world who visit St Jude’s.

“I love to know what’s in people’s heads. Hearing other peoples’ experiences helps me to understand more than what I have seen or done myself,” he says. 

For 12 years, Rickson attended St Jude’s and graduated in May 2019. When Rickson first started school, his mother, Neema, put together a ‘wish box’. Every morning before school, she would ask Rickson and Reuben to write down a wish they had for the day. 

“I would always put down that I wanted to be top of my class in academics,” says Rickson. 

After the family had finished dinner and watched the news, Neema would sit down with her sons and read out their wishes. 

“Give me some examples of how you achieved your wish,” she would say. His mother always wanted to know how they were planning to achieve their dreams. 

When Rickson began at St Jude’s, he recalls winning the Citizen Award for being a good class member. When his mother found out, she asked him, “What will you do next?” She did the same when he scooped the maths, science awards and even a music award. 

When Rickson was finishing Standard 7, the end of primary school, his mother fell ill. He spent many hours conversing with her, trying to keep her spirits up. When he was 14, one of their morning conversations ended up being their last as his mother passed away that night. Overcome with disbelief and grief, it was Rickson’s Bibi (grandmother), Anifiambazi, who got him through that traumatic time.

“My grandma became the person I could trust over anyone,” he says, adding that his grandmother only recently passed away unexpectedly. 

“Every day with my grandmother was a lesson,” says Rickson. “I wasn’t sad on the day of her funeral, I was thankful for everything I had learnt.” 

Rickson credits his resilience, determination and aspirational outlook on the lessons he learnt from his mother and grandmother. He also knows that, were it not for his place at St Jude’s, he would never have been able to dream of reaching the goals he now sets for himself. 

“I’m looking forward to going to university and meeting even more new people. In my future I’d like to travel. I want to do my mum, brother and grandmother proud.”

If you’d like to know more about Rickson and his internship, be sure to listen to the latest episode of our podcast, Inside St Jude’s – Conversations with Gemma Sisia.

Recently, the Standard 7 students finished their national exams, ranking in the top 0.3% of Tanzania. A fantastic achievement that saw St Jude's climbed 30 places in the national rankings.

One would assume the students would want a well earnt rest – however, this is not the case, with 45 students voluntarily applying to help out around the school.

Every year, upon completing exams, St Jude’s offers the opportunity for Standard 7 students to volunteer for a range of activities. This year, a major focus has been for the students to teach English and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to bus drivers and cooks employed by the school.

"It’s a way to put the teaching spirit in them," says Deputy Headmaster of Operations, Sebastian Gitbang. "The students get to use what they learn in class." Mr Gitbang originally planned to have 20 students participate in the volunteer program but was overwhelmed with applications, having to expand the program to include 45 students.

One of those students is Jackline, 14, who recently received straight A’s for her national exams. Jackline has been teaching bus drivers how to type.

"I like teaching because I learn new things," says Jackline. "Before I taught them, I had to teach myself first because I’d never typed before." 

Jackline has found her students to be receptive and enthusiastic during class time.

"They are always doing their best to speak English," says Jackline. "Whenever they ask questions, they will ask in English." 

Cornel, another teenage Standard 7 student, has been teaching English, and has a newfound appreciation for teachers.

"It’s important to have confidence," says Cornel. "To be a good teacher you need to trust yourself, have knowledge of the topic, and be confident." 

Cornel, alongside his peers Loveness, Amina, and Karen, have been teaching cooks and bus drivers.

The cooks and bus drivers , who mostly speak Swahili, have now mastered how to introduce themselves and greet people.

In Tanzania, being able to speak English is an important skill because it opens up more options for employment. This means students from St Jude’s take a particular pride in their English skills.

Moving forward, Mr Gitbang sees this program as essential in preparing the students for when they graduate and move onto Beyond St Jude’s (BSJ),and participate in the Community Service Year.

"It’s good to prepare them now," says Mr Gitbang. "So when they finish school they can give back by teaching in government schools." 

For now, Mr Gitbang has his hands full as the volunteers are proving to be in high demand.

"I just got another email," says Mr Gitbang. "The students do such a good job, they are in demand. I’m always receiving emails asking if they can help out."

Instilling a pride for education is an important part of the St Jude's tradition. Help continue this tradition by sponsoring a student today.

With a sense of nostalgia, 246 graduates gathered in celebration and recognition of their St Jude’s connection and all they have achieved since leaving the school gates.

St Jude’s alumni, from the very first graduating class in 2015 to those who completed Form 6 this June, arrived back at St Jude’s in style – on the school buses they used to catch on their way to school! They gathered at Sisia Primary Campus for dinner, speeches and dancing, the dining hall made special with tea-light candles, colorful flowers and bright tablecloths. School Founder, Gemma Sisia, made a stirring speech to the crowd who listened intently.

“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 know our alumni program can go from strength to strength because of you. It has always been my dream that in the future, I want you serving on the board of our school, or even helping us run the school,” Gemma said passionately.

Gemma also launched Alumni Spirit, an initiative through which alumni can give back to St Jude’s in the spirit with which they received their free education. This can either be contributing financially towards unsponsored scholarships, or by giving their time to come back to St Jude’s to volunteer in various school departments.  

“Through this new initiative the cycle of fighting poverty continues. We have crunched the numbers and if 75 alumni give just AU$3 a month that would sponsor the scholarship for one student’s entire education. You can support a young student through a journey that you are now finishing,’ Gemma explained to the gathered alumni.

Around 65 alumni signed up to the Alumni Spirit initiative after Gemma’s stirring speech, excited to start giving back to St Jude’s now that they are undertaking the next stage of their journey, whether that be as an intern, immersed in higher education or with a budding career already underway.

For the first time the reunion was also coupled with St Jude’s Career’s Day, held earlier in the day with secondary students. This meant that alumni could join industry professionals to give advice to current St Jude’s students about their future.

The invited professionals, representing Tanzanian industries, encouraged students to pursue their passions, while alumni and 2016 Head Boy, Sifuni, shared these words to those following in his footsteps.

“Back when I was at St Jude’s, I learnt things that led me to where I am right now. I got love, skills, confidence and all that can make you different from the rest. Take every opportunity that you get here at St Jude’s, there’s a lot in store for you. Explore the resources leaders offer you because it will guide you to good ends. I believe that in the next five years the graduates sitting here today are going to be a community of very highly skilled people, who are confident St Jude’s professionals.”

Arafa, a 22-year-old St Jude’s tertiary scholar who travelled from her University in Dar Es Salaam for the event, motivated students too.

“Your greatest resource is the people here, it’s the people that can help you get to where you want to go. While you are here at St Jude’s try to make the most of your opportunity as there is so much to explore,” Arafa shared. 

St Jude’s aspiring engineers, doctors, scientists and entrepreneurs then gathered in smaller workshop groups with the industry professionals to consider and discuss the best pathways to their dream jobs.

The events across the day and into the night truly brought the school values full circle and spotlighted the St Jude’s school spirit, as our alumni make their impact in the wider world. 

Will you join our impressive alumni in giving back? Empower young leaders to fight poverty through education and make a donation to St Jude’s.