It has been an incredible year for St Jude’s eco-entrepreneur, Edgar. His quiet and unassuming nature belies the talented and driven young man who can now boast worldwide acclaim.
Last month, 17 year-old Edgar travelled to Sweden to collect the Children’s Climate Prize 2017 award, where he got to experience first-hand Sweden’s revolutionary recycling industry… and snow!
Established in 2016, the Prize is awarded to a child or youth, aged 10-17 years, who has done something extraordinary for the climate and the environment.
When presenting him with his award, the Children’s Climate Prize jury said:
“With his invention, Edgar has made a great contribution locally in his area, and in the long run an admiring effort also for the environment and climate on a global scale."
“The jury is full of admiration of his solutions and see great potential for scaling up and further developing his methods.”
Two years ago Edgar started his own company, Green Venture Recycles. It turns plastic waste into cheap and affordable building products such as paving blocks, roof tiles and bricks, with no negative impact on the environment.
Edgar was inspired by a trip to Dar es Salam where he saw how deeply people had been affected by floods. He witnessed mud-brick homes almost completely washed away because the families living in them couldn’t afford better materials to build with.
Given the opportunity to attend innovation workshops on the weekend through The School of St Jude, Edgar dreamed up his concept and it was here that he designed the first prototype, entering it into the School’s annual Science Fair.
Speaking about his journey so far, Edgar credits The School for helping to provide him with the opportunity:
“I couldn’t have achieved this without the help of my school!”
“I think this idea can change the world, but I’d like to start here in Africa. Tanzania is a developing country and it’s important for us to use our skills to serve the local community. Yes, we have problems. It is up to individuals to help solve them.”
In addition to his latest accolade, Edgar was also recently awarded first runner-up of the Anzisha Prize. Supported by African Leadership Academy (ALA) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the Prize celebrates the next generation of young African entrepreneurial leaders, recognising their contribution in helping create job opportunities, solving local development problems and driving economies.
As the second youngest candidate selected to attend, he had tough competition, but it proved hard for the judges to argue with a 17 year-old who is already employing over 50 people, ridding his local community of more than 1.2 million plastic bags and providing strong, affordable and eco-friendly building materials to those who really need them.
As a shortlisted candidate, Edgar attended a ‘boot camp’ in South Africa where he received business training and mentorship as well as money towards expanding his business further.
Edgar’s achievements are incredible, but they’re not a one-off. The School of St Jude sets out to provide all of its students with the education, attitude and belief to become the future leaders of Tanzania, leaders who care about their communities, their country and the world we all live in. Our students are talented and motivated and our science and technology laboratories have the facilities for students to experiment with new ideas.
This is how Edgar started working on his invention, and look where he has got to now! Sponsor a St Jude’s student and give someone else the chance to follow in his footsteps.
Vicky is one of Beyond St Jude’s newest Community Service Year interns. Confident and motivated, she’s having an impact on almost 300 government school students, who otherwise wouldn’t have a mathematics teacher.
Vicky attended the primary school linked to the government secondary school she now teaches at, before she was accepted into St Jude’s for Standard 2 in 2006.
More than 10 years after her St Jude’s journey began, she’s well on her way to achieving success, thanks to her free, quality education.
“I feel great. I have the chance to teach these students what I know, and make sure they reach where I am. I was once like them.”
“Every student has come from a different background and most of them are poor, so being with them and helping them is teaching me a lot of things.”
Community Service Year interns are able to empathise with the students they teach, as St Jude’s graduates know all too well the perils of growing up in poverty.
Vicky was raised by a courageous single mother in a village near our Sisia primary campus. Her mother worked as a labourer on building sites while raising her only daughter.
Resilient and headstrong, Vicky is determined to now be the first person in her family to receive a tertiary qualification.
“In my family, it is me, my mother and my grandmother and none of them have been to university.”
“After finishing my Community Service Year, I would like to attend Sokoine University of Agriculture or the University of Dar es Salaam.”
“Most people will say that if they are educated, they will get good jobs and then they will be able to earn money so they won’t be poor again, but I think it’s much more than that.”
“I don’t just think that if you study, you get a job, you get paid. I think education opens your mind, you start thinking outside the box.”
“You see it’s not just about you being rich, it’s about thinking more deeply about society.”
The aspiring agricultural economist sets high expectations for herself, and she holds similar hopes for her students.
“I’m the kind of person who wants quick results. I’m trying to move the students with the lowest scores to the front of the classroom, so I can attend to them individually, and ask if they understand.”
“I’ll be happy if all my kids get As or Bs.”
In addition to providing underprivileged students with a quality learning experience, Vicky sets an example they’ll follow in years to come: to work hard and try their best.
“I would just like to make sure that all of them believe in themselves, believe that they can do everything because it’s not that they cannot do things, they can, they just don’t trust in themselves so if I make them believe in themselves, I think they can do great things.”
With her ambition, Vicky is sure to achieve great things, and inspire others to do the same along the way. Find out more about the Beyond St Jude’s program and how you can support students like her.
When St Jude’s Interact President, Lisa, hangs up her school uniform at the end of each term, her work is not yet done — and that’s just the way she likes it!
As a part of the Smith secondary campus service program, Lisa and dozens of her school friends volunteer at several local orphanages during their term break.
Inspired by the spirit of St Jude’s supporters worldwide, the energetic Form 4 student hopes to make a difference in the lives of others.
“St Jude’s is giving many students the opportunity to receive a free education. We love the chance to share what we receive… to give back in return.”
The program, overseen by Head of School Services & Self-Reliance, Mr Ernest, motivates students to demonstrate our school values: Respect, Responsibility, Honesty and Kindness.
“Without the spirit of generosity, St Jude’s would not exist, and this is why we started the program.”
“The students come up with ideas for ways to help. I seek permission from the academic leaders, then organise transport and supervision,” Mr Ernest said.
It’s clear that Mr Ernest’s humility and compassion has had an impact on his students.
“Every idea we come up with, he will try to support us. He is a good role model,” Lisa affirmed.
Lisa believes that helping others is a way to show gratitude for the opportunities she receives at St Jude’s.
“When we see these children, we feel like we are one with our community. We can teach them what we know. When we spend time with them, they feel like they belong too.”
“Our duties include helping with washing and cleaning, and we have fun playing with the kids!”
“It makes me appreciate my family, because most children at the orphanages do not have any. I am privileged to get the love I deserve.”
Of course, there’s always time for the students to bond and laugh.
“The first time we went [to the orphanage], my friend was cleaning the stairs. She was almost finished, then she accidentally spilled the bucket and had to start again! Even she thought it was so funny.”
At the end of a hard day’s work, it’s the quiet moments of humanity and empathy which fuel our students’ appetite for community service.
“One of the children at the orphanage had a birthday. We celebrated with sweets. One boy I had made friends with came up to me and said, ‘you have been my friend. I want to give you this,’” Lisa shared.
“I told him to keep his own sweets, but I felt so nice…I knew I had made somebody feel special.”
You can make our students feel special by spreading the word about their inspiring projects!
When Laura Brown and Gemma Sisia were growing up as farmers’ daughters in country New South Wales, it’s unlikely either could have predicted where their lives would lead.
Both women were motivated by a sense of intrigue and adventure to seek challenges and opportunities.
“For me, it was big dreams and curiosity! You just have to turn up. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t try,” Laura said.
Laura Brown is an international publishing icon, fashioning the runway as InStyle Magazine’s Editor in Chief.
A self-confessed ‘challenge junkie’, Gemma couldn’t agree more with her homeland counterpart.
“You just have to keep going, no matter what; work towards your dream and never let it go.”
Gemma Sisia, Founder of The School of St Jude, provides a free, quality education to 1,800 of Tanzania’s brightest and most disadvantaged children.
Both women are fiercely passionate about their work, securing their status as Aussie powerhouses making a global impact.
This month, they’ve joined forces to fight poverty through education.
Laura literally swept our students off their feet when she visited St Jude’s in late July 2017, and couldn’t resist signing up to sponsor an academic scholarship for two of Tanzania’s youngest leaders.
“We can thank Liam Bartlett from 60 Minutes Australia for introducing me to Gemma!” Laura said.
“I told him I was going to Tanzania on vacation and he told me about her and the School. It was fate.”
“What most impressed me about St Jude’s is how incredible the mission is and how effective the team are at achieving it.”
“I also love the Australian animals on the school’s walls, obviously.”
Laura now supports the education of two girls at St Jude’s; Alice in Standard 3 (Grade 3) at Sisia primary, and Hadija in Form 1 (Grade 8) at Smith secondary campus.
“It’s so wonderful to have the support of a successful international leader like Laura. She shows our female students they can achieve anything they set their mind and heart to,” Gemma insisted.
In July, Laura’s warm and engaging presence lit up the playground and entertained swathes of excited St Jude’s students!
“I loved meeting two spunky young boys in Grade 3 named Saad and Yusuph. They were so funny and told me not to give away any answers [in class]!”
“I just couldn’t not sponsor. You have to help where you can, and this is so immediate and tangible. I love being able to track how a student grows. I’m thrilled to be able to contribute anything at all.”
Her advice to Alice and Hadija?
“Absorb everything you can, learn everything you can, meet everyone you can.”
“I feel passionately about supporting the education of children in Tanzania, because they should have the same opportunities as anyone. Education should be an equal playing field, globally and economically,” Laura said.
True that, Laura. On’ya mate.
Laura’s support means two of Tanzania’s most disadvantaged young leaders have opportunities to succeed at their fingertips. Show your support by becoming a sponsor.
Every year during spring, hundreds of determined youngsters vie for one of 75 places in St Jude’s primary school.
Across two recent selection days, more than 1,700 invited government school students lined up for a bright future at the gates of Sisia primary campus!
Their tiny fingers, wrapped around pencils, invitation letters and identity documents, grasped tightly onto a beacon of hope: the possibility of an academic scholarship gifted by St Jude’s.
Successful applicants will join St Jude’s cohort of 1,800 future Tanzanian leaders next January.
With access to a free, high-quality education, our students hold the key to freedom from poverty, for themselves and their families.
Community Relations Manager, Charlotte, has overseen the complex, yet vital student selection process since 2014.
“We must be sure the selected students are both bright and disadvantaged. That’s how we can help families in greatest need.”
It’s no secret that St Jude’s academic scholarships open the gateway to possibilities and are competitively sought. Our Community Relations team is well-versed in overcoming challenges.
“There are always surprises on selection days. This year, we had a 10-year-old trying to sit the test meant for six-year-olds. People will go to great lengths to come to St Jude’s.”
Tales of joy and triumph however, outweigh tricks and challenges. For staff, selection days are a chance to see the immediate impact of St Jude’s.
Beyond St Jude’s Coordinator, Vivian, has helped with student selection for three years, and considers selection days a career highlight.
“My job this year was to supervise thousands of parents waiting at the gate.”
“Some parents waited for eight hours. At the end, when students who progressed finally came out, they were scooped into the arms of loved ones, cradled like babies, thrown in the air, and they wept tears of joy.”
“Seeing such pride was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I really understood the effect St Jude’s has on people in my own community,” Vivian explained.
Out of hundreds who underwent academic and document tests, 253 students have progressed to the next selection stage: poverty checks.
St Jude’s staff will crisscross the Arusha region until December, assessing prospective students’ homes against strict selection criteria. Poverty checks help us to ensure academic scholarships are reserved for severely underprivileged students.
When 75 excited new students step through the Sisia primary campus gates again in January, they’ll know the pencil they grasp is their beacon of hope; that, because of St Jude’s, they can write the future of their dreams.
Open the gates to a bright future for new St Jude’s students. Become a sponsor today!
In July, 42 new Form 5 students tied their shoelaces, pulled up their socks and adjusted their St Jude’s uniform for the very first time.
The aspiring scholars have clung to high hopes through years of anticipation and perseverance.
One of these students is Agness. At 18 years old, she’s on the cusp of reaching her dreams — pursuing her love for drama, and becoming an engineer.
Clever and confident, Agness was invited by the headmaster of her government school to take our Form 5 entrance exam at Sisia campus earlier this year.
Flashing a broad smile, Agness fondly remembered the life-changing moment she learnt she’d been accepted into St Jude’s.
“I live with my grandfather, grandmother, uncles, aunties and sisters; I have two older sisters, and a twin!” Agness said.
“My family felt so happy, especially my grandfather. He was thankful for the St Jude’s staff who visited us, and thankful to God for the opportunity.”
“My twin sister still attends a government school. It’s different for her, because the support you get from teachers in government schools is small compared to the support from St Jude’s teachers.” she recalled.
“I used to have to find answers to questions by myself, but at St Jude’s, we collaborate with other students in discussion groups and the teachers always help us.”
Acceptance into St Jude’s opens the door to a bright future; however, in Tanzania, the transition from a government school to an English-medium school presents unique challenges.
“The first time I came through the St Jude’s gates, I was nervous because it was a new environment. I didn’t know anyone. I came here wearing my government school uniform, then I collected my St Jude’s uniform. When I first saw myself wearing it in the mirror, I looked so happy,” Agness said.
“St Jude’s is good, the teachers are excellent, and I finally have enough learning materials. The students cooperate with the teachers, so we can all study and perform very well,” she explained.
Unstoppable Agness, a self-taught English speaker, is learning new and exciting things every day from her school friends.
“We can join so many clubs and do activities here! I like drama, singing and I want to be a volunteer,” she grinned.
“I believe anything is possible if you work hard. I always had hope for myself, but my goals are only really possible now because of St Jude’s,” Agness remarked.
“I want to say thank you to The School of St Jude’s supporters for giving us the chance to come here. I didn’t expect to get this opportunity. Even though I don’t have a sponsor yet, I am hopeful. This feels like a dream come true.”
Would you like to help a new student’s dream come true? You can today, by becoming a sponsor!
