There had to be something special happening at St Jude’s to lure our very first teacher back.

Australian volunteer Angela Bailey fondly remembers her first time living in the Arusha and volunteering at the school, so the chance to offer further support to some of the very same students she taught back in those early days was too good to pass up.

“It’s amazing, and I feel very privileged to be back here working with these kids, or young adults I should say, because they are amazing students. It has been fantastic walking through the grounds of the secondary school, getting big hugs and cool handshakes,” she said.

“I’m certainly very excited to be working with them and they seem to be very excited about it too.”

Thirteen years ago, the Sydney resident helped establish the St Jude’s, along with Gemma Sisia and Kim Saville, who have both remained at the school.

Angela became the first teacher at St Jude’s and spent three years with us, before spending the last decade working on various projects in Australia and Vietnam.

She had been back to the school to visit during that decade, but to be working here again is something rather special.

“The last time I was here was for the 10 years (anniversary), and before that it had been five years. That time I remember I was just walking around in tears, it was so emotional I could hardly even talk,” she said.

“There’s now three campuses when there was only one… more buses. More students, obviously. I notice the higher-educated teachers, through conversation with them. Moshono (village) has completely and utterly changed – there’s so many shops now, and a nightclub, a lot more people, a lot more traffic, lots of people moving to Moshono from town (Arusha)…”

Almost three years after her last visit, Angela heard murmurings of our community service and tertiary teams and knew it was the reason she would return.

She arrived at St Jude’s in early April to oversee the teams (pictured below), as part of the Beyond St Jude’s program.

Her responsibility is far from a walk in the park, with 59 of the 61 graduating students in the program volunteering to spend a year as teachers in Government-run schools before their university education begins. Angela said the hard work her excellent team had already put in was a great start.

“Gemma and I joke around - she has literally offered me so many jobs to come back over the years – and this, for me, was it. I am so passionate about the community service and I think it is such an amazing way for these kids to give back,” she said.

“There’s an opportunity to make even more of a difference here, as this education is going to spread even further, into the government schools, which I know are seriously lacking. This is why I’m so excited and passionate about this role in particular.”

Throughout the following two years she plans to spend here, Angela looks forward to seeing the success of the Beyond St Jude’s program and all the students involved.

“We’ll be giving them packages, to go out, so depending on the subjects they’re teaching they’ll have textbooks to take with them, resources, chalk, and everything they would need,” she explained.

“I hope we have a really good start on both the community service project and the tertiary. I’m hoping that by the time I leave it’s running well (of its own accord). We’re going to learn a lot in the first couple of years.”

School of St Jude's first ever Form 6 graduation is just a heartbeat away!

On May 30, 2015, visitors from around the world will join us to celebrate this special occasion at a ceremony at St Jude's.

The ceremony will include musical and dance performances from St Jude's senior students as well as speeches from students and staff.

The entire school has been busily preparing to make sure the day is a success. Watch as our school founder Gemma Sisia, staff and the students get ready for the big day.

These are the names and faces that make up one of the biggest milestones in the history of St Jude's.

Meet our graduating class, 61 students who, with the help our passionate supporters, have completed their studies and will soon take the next step in becoming leaders of Tanzania.

Selected from some of the poorest families in Arusha, these young men and women have overcome mountains of adversity on their way to becoming St Jude's graduates.

Get to know them, and see what has inspired them along the way.

One of the biggest events in the history of St Jude’s is getting closer and closer.

Our first ever Form 6 class will graduate on May 30 in a ceremony that has been 13 years in the making.

Last Wednesday, the excited students took another major step towards
finishing their schooling when they completed their final Form 6 exams.

Hear them talk about the exams, and the impact St Jude’s has had on their lives in this moving video.

“Commitment is the moment in life when you seize opportunities and use them to alter your life and destiny”.

Alex Elifas is a contemplative soul and his impending graduation in May is providing him cause to be even more reflective than usual. “St Jude’s has built a big part of my personality”, he says, “Who I am has been shaped by the school”.

Alex’s time at St Jude’s has been eventful. He’s a bright young man who was able to skip ahead two grades. In his senior years he left the school for one year so as to return to finish his schooling with the rest of the inaugural graduating class of 2015.

He is proud to be finishing with his class and cannot wait for the graduation celebrations. “I look forward to spending time and celebrating with my sponsors, friends and family”, he says.

However, despite the overall focus on the senior class, Alex has a more holistic view of his graduation and the influence it will have on the rest of the school. “I am trying to figure out how to have a positive impact on the other students. I want to inspire the younger ones”.

Alex’s time at St Jude’s has had a profound impact on his life. “St Jude’s made me dream differently. Without St Jude’s I couldn’t have the plans I have now. It has given me big dreams.”

Alex’s dreams are impressive. After graduation he will take part in the St Jude’s community service program. He looks forward to giving back by teaching at a local government school where his scientific knowledge can have a big impact in a region with a desperate shortage of maths and science teachers. He plans to learn French and the keyboard in his spare time.  

His long term ambitions are to study electrical engineering with a focus on biomedical engineering. Alex wants to have a positive impact on his country through his chosen profession.

“There are currently no experts in the field of electronics and biomedics in Tanzania”, Alex says, “I will work on different projects to improve the country. I am looking forward to being in a position where I can support or sponsor projects in Tanzania that will have a positive impact on society”.

St Jude’s will always play an important part in Alex’s life and it is inspiring to hear him speak of his feelings for the school and his continued involvement.

“Thanks to St Jude’s I had an easy life, a life without struggle,” he says. “Because of St Jude’s I will be someone in the future.”

For 13 years we have been working towards this day - the day we commemorate our first Form 6 graduates leaving behind their school teachers, school books and school uniforms and heading into the world beyond the school gates. These proud young men and women will celebrate their graduation on Saturday, May 30, 2015, with their parents, school staff members and supporters from around the world who have shared the school’s long-term vision of fighting poverty through education.

As well as a stirring and emotional tribute to our 61 graduates on that Saturday, the students and staff have also planned fun, informative and creative events in which visitors may participate during the week leading up to the big day! Everyone, no matter where you are, is guaranteed a St Jude’s experience to remember!

If you're interested in coming to St Jude's to celebrate with our students, it’s not too late.

If you can’t join us in person don’t worry, you can still be a part of it!

Keep an eye on our website and social media as we keep you up to date with videos and photos throughout the graduation week!

Want to get involved? Our first ever Form 6 Graduation is a great reason to spread the word about St Jude’s and how we are fighting poverty through education. Why not host an event or small gathering and share the graduation video with your family, friends and colleagues. The video will be released soon after graduation. Find resources and ideas here to get you started.

Want a bit of a peek behind the scenes of the graduation planning?!

We’ll let Kudra and Enock, the Form 6 students on our graduation committee, give away a few secrets:

What role are you playing in planning the graduation? 

KUDRA: I am the class representative member of the committee. I am bridging the gap between the graduates and the school’s graduation committee. I was elected to be a class representative by my fellow students.

ENOCK: The committee realised early on that we had some creative ideas to make the graduation awesome, so we were given a chance to be part of the organisation team.

What ideas are you working on now? 

KUDRA: Some of the decisions that still need to be made are: planning for the night concert after graduation, picking the guest of honour, putting together gifts and preparing our farewell presentation.

What are you most excited about? 

ENOCK: I am most excited to see the sponsors! I am also very excited to graduate A-level, it has been two busy years of hard work and sacrifice. I also can’t wait for Day 3 - the fun day where we will enjoy the variety of sports and games with staff, fellow students, visitors and sponsors. I hope it will be awesome!

KUDRA: I’m excited about the day my classmates and I will spend helping at a children’s centre in Arusha, doing different charitable activities like washing their clothes, cleaning the environment and playing different games.

What are your plans after graduation?

KUDRA: After graduation I will do my community service year in two sessions: Outside St Jude’s, I will teach commerce, accounting, bookkeeping and Kiswahili at Arusha Secondary School. At St Jude’s, I would love to serve as a boarding matron at the Moivaro campus.

ENOCK: I will take a month to rest and plan for my community service program. I will also use this time to explore tertiary education and be with my family.

What do you think graduation will be like?

KUDRA: I hope it will make a remarkable day at St Jude’s. Many people will come over including sponsors, donors, volunteers and parents to join us celebrating our achievement.

ENOCK: I know it will be a remarkable one. First one in history. Having all the well-wishers around will be just incredible.