Each year, The School of St Jude community comes together for a day of celebration in honour of its namesake, the patron saint of hopeless cases.
Founder, Gemma Sisia, chose the school’s name nearly 20 years ago as a nod to her own faith and belief that there is hope for every child to live a good life, rich with knowledge, love and compassion.
These three values were demonstrated at the 2018 St Jude’s Day celebration, celebrated on Friday October 26 at Smith Secondary Campus – two days before St Jude’s official Feast Day.
Our school’s students come from some of the most economically disadvantaged corners of Arusha. From families who hold on to steadfast hope that their child’s education will spread a ripple effect throughout their community and help them to navigate their way out of poverty.
Inspired by the gift of the free, quality education their child has received from St Jude’s, these families donate household goods and simple food items to others in even greater need within Arusha.
Students offered the gifts during a special Mass held at the beginning of St Jude’s Day and, in the days following, the gifts were distributed to orphanages and community centres.
Erick, a current Form 4 student and winner of the 2017 Young Scientist Tanzania competition, is aware of the importance of giving back.
“I could not be where I am now without support from St Jude’s. We as students will do whatever we can to spread the school’s message beyond our families. We want to help the community through the gift of education we have received,” he said.
St Jude’s Day was also a chance for the school’s youngest students to meet with their older peers, enjoying colourful performances together throughout the day.
“I love seeing the secondary students in costume and dancing on the stage. They are very talented,” Emmy, a Standard 5 student at Sisia Primary Campus, said.
“Another good thing is the food. We eat royo (roast beef), bananas, rice and vegetables. It is delicious!” Emmy described.
To end the day of celebration, the school gathered after lunch for a concert, when primary and secondary student groups performed cultural dances and songs of gratitude to Mama Gemma and St Jude.
Class 2C from Sisia Primary Campus and the Ngoma Dance Club from Smith Secondary Campus emerged as the overall concert winners. Their combination of enthusiasm and the message their performances conveyed sent them soaring to the top of the judge’s lists!
The day concluded with an impassioned vote of thanks from Academic Manager, Ms Liz, whose words drove home the premise on which St Jude’s was founded.
“St Jude is the patron saint of hopeless causes. I want each and every one of you to know that you are not a hopeless cause. You may face situations and circumstances which seem hopeless, but you must always hold on to the hope that you will be triumphant.”
Be a part of our students’ triumphant journeys and help them give back to their community. Become a sponsor today.
Diana and Abrahamani are St Jude’s new school prefects. As Head Girl and Head Boy, they personify the school’s core values: respect, responsibility, honesty and kindness, and are already making a difference as young leaders.
Both students joined St Jude’s as Standard 1 students in 2006, so they are well versed in what it takes to lead by example.
“A good leader is confident, honest and fair. A leader who favours the few cannot lead well. It Is a privilege to help lead my fellow students.” Diana said.
“It is true that St Jude’s values have taught us how to represent our peers. We understand that facing challenges is a part of leadership, and we are learning to solve problems in a diplomatic way,” Abrahamani added.
During their one year term as school leaders, Diana and Abrahamani have grand plans to increase student involvement in extracurricular activities, knowing that these programs give students the opportunity to enhance life skills and broaden their networks.
“We expect that through our leadership, more students will become involved in sports, essay competitions and motivate students to become involved with the many clubs on campus.”
“Such activities may motivate students in their studies also, and help them improve physical activity for overall health,” the students agreed.
Diana and Abrahamani explained that they are inspired by student leaders who had come before them to apply for the school’s top democratically elected positions.
“We know that we can do a good job, just as those before us did. We also have a lot of support from academic staff. The teachers encourage us to try our best,” Abrahamani said.
“Mr Mcharo [Smith Secondary Campus Headmaster] in particular motivates us. He is a good listener and helps in every way he can. He works very hard to make sure our feedback is addressed,” Diana shared.
“As for me, I have learnt to be more confident. I can speak in front of large audiences, and even to groups of teachers when representing the students. It is very empowering,” she added.
“In my case, the experience is teaching me to mature,” Abrahamani said.
“I know that we have the potential to be leaders not only in our school community, but to be inspiring role models for the wider community as well.”
Did you know that 61 African tribes are represented across St Jude’s primary and secondary campuses?
Each year during September, the entire school celebrates the cultural unity of Tanzania and the beautiful, varied backgrounds from which our students and staff descend.
Julius Nyerere, the first President of Tanzania, set a bold example of strength in unity when he declared, “without unity, there is no future for Africa.”
The founding leader of this country, which many of our students will become leaders within, believed that regardless of tribe or religion, Tanzanians are primarily united by their national citizenship.
Having founded Tanzania on this premise, he left a legacy of cultural harmony on a continent that, so frequently, is stereotyped as a hotbed of hostility and conflict.
With Nyerere’s example underpinning the premise of cultural celebration, our 2018 Cultural Day was a colourful display of national pride and vision for the future.
Throughout the event, 13 groups of students performed entertaining arts showcases, ranging from Hindi songs to traditional ngoma dancing and fashion exhibitions.
Mr Humphrey, Deputy Headmaster of Core Values and Operations, and Ms Irene, a secondary teacher, welcomed special guests to the event. Ms Irene officially opened the celebration with a stirring address.
“The theme of today is ‘arts and culture promoting patriotism.’ Culture is the total way of life, each community has its way of life, and we as Tanzanians have a way of life. The food we eat, how we dress, the language we use."
“Many Tanzanians adopt western ways of life. That is okay, it is progress, but we also have our own culture. You are receiving a western-style education, and will go out to the world, but please, you must remember, you are Tanzanian. We have our arts, traditional songs, drama, poems, our literature. Be broad-minded and read things from other countries, but remember to read about your own country.”
“I am here to ask you to love your culture, love who you are, love your skin, your hair and your body. We have to love our country. No one will love this country more than we who are Tanzanian.”
After the opening remarks, students between Forms 1 and 6 took to the stage to perform traditional ngoma dances and dramatic plays. Four student groups showcased cultural pride through visual arts and fashion exhibits.
One winning group in the visual arts category produced a captivating painting titled ‘The Black Child’. It took out first prize in this category on the basis of originality, quality, and expression of cultural pride.
“This picture shows what it means to love your nation. This strong woman is a treasure to her nation, who is carrying her child. The child represents the future for Africa,” group members explained.
An indisputable highlight from the day was a surprise performance from secondary staff! Mr Humphrey even took to the stage for a dance, together with cooks and teachers from a range of faculties.
The day concluded with a vote of thanks from Deputy Director, Angela, who called upon students to sustain a positive culture within St Jude’s.
“Today has been a wonderful day to celebrate Tanzanian culture. As we know, there are many cultural areas within our lives, and school is one of those. Respect, responsibility, honesty and kindness are St Jude’s school values. Let’s all work together to make sure those values are always upheld.”
In October 2017, we introduced you to Jenifa, a then-Form 4 student who represented St Jude’s at the Women and Girls in Science workshop hosted by Nelson Mandela University.
Jenifa, the only daughter among three children, is destined to break the cycle of poverty for her family, having successfully attained an academic scholarship at St Jude’s to complete her A Level studies.
Immersed in many aspects of school life, Jenifa recently expressed her cultural pride, through participation in our annual Cultural Day festivities.
“Culture, to me, means a total way of life. I love being Tanzanian. From our food, to our clothes, our close families. Our way of being is very genuine,” Jenifa said.
Jenifa belongs to the Meru tribe of Tanzania, who are renowned for their agricultural expertise and first arrived to Mount Meru in Arusha from coastal regions some 800 years ago.
“Being a member of the Meru tribe has influenced our family ways. The behavior, cooking, clothes and traditional dances we practice were passed down to us. It is important to carry them forward.”
Articulate and insightful, Jenifa explained that while it is important to ensure the sustainability of cultural traditions, she would like to play her part in advancing cultural status for women and girls.
“Last year I wanted to be an Aeronautical Engineer. I changed my decision and would like to be a doctor because I can help more women that way.”
“It is known that African culture does not always empower women. As a doctor, I can help women by treating them when they have babies. I will give them knowledge about hygiene, especially to young girls, and knowledge about maternity. I also want to support women’s mental health. If women go through trauma, they might have psychological problems, but as a doctor I can help to counsel them.”
Jenifa believes St Jude’s Cultural Day empowers students to take pride in Tanzanian culture, and express creativity.
“Some are dancing, some are acting, some are designers, some are cooking. People can also cooperate and share ideas with each other.”
“I am in Form 5 and we have many new students joining us for A Level who would never have this chance at a government school. One of my friends, Nuru, is new this year and she participated in the fashion show. It makes me so happy to see how excited the new students are to attend this special day!”
Lotoishe is a young man who has already overcome significant barriers in his life, and who is now well on the way to a future of his own making.
He and his family live in a village named Mwandeti, around a two hour drive from Smith Secondary Campus, where he began his A-Level studies in July. “I heard about the school through my government school headmaster. On the day of my interview for St Jude’s, I started my journey at five o’clock in the morning. I had to walk for two hours to get to a bus station,” Lotoishe said.
“Two of us from my previous school did the interview at St Jude’s, and I was lucky enough to be selected. The day I was selected, I was so happy.”
Lotoishe, the eldest of five children, was a top-scoring student at his local government school and dreams of becoming an Engineer, and of improving life for his family.
“When I got to St Jude’s I was surprised to find a lot of teachers. There are many good science teachers, but at my previous secondary school, there were barely any teachers.”
Usa River, where Smith Secondary Campus is located, may seem far from home for Lotoishe, but he’s now closer than ever to reaching his dream.
More than 15 relatives share small mud huts in Lotoishe’s boma — the traditional name for a Maasai dwelling — and their first-spoken language is Maa, the native tongue of the Maasai.
A narrow, unsealed road wedged into a large valley connects Lotoishe and his fellow Maasai community to urban Arusha. His mother, Nanare, walks for three hours uphill to fetch water at a communal tap.
“Our life is very difficult because we do not have enough money. I must walk very far to get to food and water, so my children eat food once a day,” Nanare explained.
“I spend every day doing chores for the family, fetching supplies, cleaning, looking after the young children. It is a hard life but I love my family.”
“Because we are Maasai, wealth is measured by how many animals we have. We only have two cows, we sold the rest to afford Lotoishe’s government school expenses.”
“I know my son will do well and he can make a good living one day. Education will help him get there and we know he can help us all to do better. We are so proud.” she said.
Lotoishe is one of 32 Form 5 students at St Jude’s whose academic scholarship is currently unsponsored. You can help to change his life, sign up to sponsor today!
*Quotes translated from Kiswahili and Maasai*
Ever wondered what it’s like behind the scenes at our Student Selection Days?
The opportunity to attend The School of St Jude is a highly competitive process. Scholarships are only offered to applicants who demonstrate academic excellence, and come from backgrounds of severe economic hardship.
The student selection process, led by our Community Relations team, and overseen by team manager, Charlotte, takes months of organisation and logistical planning.It involves over a hundred staff members, from guards, gardeners and bus drivers, to academic and administration teams, sacrificing Saturdays during selection periods to help on Student Selection Day and, in following weeks, poverty assessments inside hopeful students’ homes.
Student selection season for secondary students takes place between April and July, with primary students selected between August and October.
Standard 1 and 2 students, aged between 6 and 8, are our youngest recipients of a free, high quality education, and their selection process attracts the largest number of scholarship applicants.
Philomena has worked in St Jude’s Community Relations team since 2010 and has since played a vital role in selecting many of our students.
“Weeks before Student Selection Day, our team visits government schools within Arusha to deliver invitation letters to students who score in the top 10% of their government school Preparatory and Standard 1 classes. It is a huge activity.”
Academic testing begins at 8.30am on selection days and usually runs until 5pm. However, many students and their parents start lining up outside the Sisia Primary Campus gates from 6am.
For secondary scholarship applicants vying for positions in Form 1 (Grade 8) and Form 5 (Grade 11), the journey to Student Selection Day is much longer and more arduous… and not just in travel time!
Form 1 applicants are invited from within the Arusha region, whereas Form 5 scholarships are offered to top-scoring secondary students from government schools in surrounding regions, as well as the Arusha region.
Successful Form 5 applicants will have received only a government school education for a decade, and many travel for more than a day via public transport to be at St Jude’s to sit their academic test.
Their resilience and potential for success is already proven; advancing from primary school to secondary school in Tanzania is uncommon. Additionally, with 4,614 O Level (Form 1-Form 4) schools, and only 540 A Level (Form 5-Form 6) schools in Tanzania, advancing from Form 4 to Form 5 is highly improbable for the majority of students.
St Jude’s Form 1 and Form 5 scholarships provide a pathway for young, disadvantaged Tanzanians who have already demonstrated their academic skills, to progress beyond their means and their imagination.
Students who successfully pass St Jude’s challenging academic test and document checks on selection days are visited in their homes at a later date by poverty assessment teams, comprised of academic, business and facilities staff, as well as Parent Committee members.
It may take between 12 and 16 hours per day for poverty assessment teams to interview six Form 5 applicants, due to the long distances the teams have to travel.
Poverty assessments are always challenging, regardless of whether the applicants’ families are based locally or far away. Assessment teams encounter additional challenges, though, when travelling long distances to interview prospective Form 5 students in their homes.
Our bus fleet scales roads along the steep outskirts of Mount Kilimanjaro, traverses rocky terrain in remote tribal villages and, sometimes, get stuck in thick mud. Weather occasionally prevents our buses from reaching students’ homes on the first attempt, particularly during Form 5 student selection.
“In my first week at St Jude’s I found myself on a school bus, trundling around the Kilimanjaro region participating in Form 5 poverty assessments. The rain was so heavy that our bus struggled to drive uphill on long, muddy roads. We became bogged and eventually had no choice but to make our way back to a main road. Unfortunately we didn’t make it to that student’s house that day, which made me think how hard it must be for her to travel to school.” Supporter Relations Officer, Eithne, explained.
Travelling to remote areas enables us to expand the fight against poverty, and to reach some of the students in greatest need of an education.
Our Form 5 entrants consistently rank among top-scoring Form 6 graduates. Some of them, like Gift, have completed a Community Service Year and now study in leading universities in Tanzania or abroad, having attained scholarships through Beyond St Jude’s and the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program at African Leadership Academy.
A bright future is just a few short years away for students who join St Jude’s in Form 5. Consider giving them a step up and sponsor an academic scholarship for one of these remarkable young adults!
