It’s been ten years since Anna stood proudly in her graduation gown as part of the first-ever graduating class of The School of St Jude in 2015. While much has changed since that milestone moment, Anna’s connection to the school has remained strong - coming full circle earlier this year when she started sponsoring a student scholarship.
“In January, I started sponsoring the scholarship of a Standard 1 student named Careen. I came to the school and had the opportunity to meet her. I can’t even describe the experience. It was just incredible,” says Anna.
For Anna, sponsoring Careen's education stemmed from a desire to give back – both for the education she received and to support her community.
“When I was a student, there were people who were generous enough to sponsor my education, and now I have the chance to do it for somebody else. It’s more than financial support; it’s holding someone’s hand on the path to becoming like myself, and even more,” she adds.
Anna’s commitment to giving back began well before this year. After graduating from St Jude’s, she spent a year teaching at a government school through the Community Service Year (CSY) program that places volunteers in government schools across Arusha and nearby regions, as well as in various non-teaching roles within St Jude’s. Since the program’s inception, St Jude’s alumni have taught more than 170,000 government school students.
“When I was teaching, I saw how strained and under-resourced most government schools are. When a student joins St Jude’s, they are lucky to receive all these resources, from the teachers to the library and everything else. It’s life-changing,” says Anna.
Anna knows this transformation firsthand. Before joining St Jude’s in Form 1, she attended a government primary school where all her classes were taught in Kiswahili.
“When I graduated from Form 4, four years after being at St Jude’s, I was the best student in English. The school shaped me in every way to be prepared for the future. Now, when I think about work, I don’t just think about getting a job and a salary; I think about how my work can change the world and touch lives,” she says.
Following her CSY, Anna earned a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Accounting in Dar es Salaam before returning to Arusha to work in the St Jude’s Accounts team.
Having been both a student and staff member, Anna has gained a unique perspective on the school’s holistic education, one that goes beyond academics to develop well-rounded individuals.
“We weren’t only taught subjects like physics, chemistry and mathematics, but also things like entrepreneurship and the importance of giving back to our communities. It shaped me in a way that I was ready to face the world not only with academic skills but with life skills too which is really important,” she adds.
Late last year, Anna took on a new role with Toyota but remains closely connected to the school. She hopes that, in time, more alumni will be able to sponsor student scholarships once they are in a position to do so.
“Every year, we have around 150 to 200 graduates, and 20 years from now, there will be thousands and thousands of students who have graduated from St Jude’s,” she says.
“If just 10 to 15 alumni from each graduating class sponsor one student scholarship each, you can imagine how many sponsors we’ll have in 20 years, and the impact that will make. From having people sponsor us when we were young and then us as alumni sponsoring our ‘younger ones,’ it’s the biggest thank you there is.”
This month, long-time supporter and American Friends of The School of St Jude (AFSJ) President, Laurel, returned to the school for the Form 6 Graduation. On her eighth visit, we caught up with her to find out what keeps bringing her back.
I was president of my Rotary Club then, and I was intrigued after hearing a talk about The School of St Jude. We decided it would be our international project. We initially tried sending parcels with supplies, but then decided it would be better to visit the school ourselves. While a Rotary grant wasn't possible, we started meeting students and my club began sponsoring Beatrice, who graduated this year. So even though she's not listed as a student I sponsor, I financially support her through the club.
Watching them blossom and grow and work towards their dreams has been phenomenal. Take Abdullah, for example. When I first saw him in 2021, his artwork was done on graph paper, and he told me his real dream was to work in animation. With the help of the Art Program and other school staff, he created a portfolio, and eventually, we found a university in South Africa for him to study animation. It's incredibly exciting to see him pursuing his passion. I have students who have gone all the way through to Form 6 and are now in tertiary education. I also have ones who are at the beginning of their journey like Jafari, who's in Form 3.
I think the most exciting thing is that they're all given an equal opportunity at St Jude’s, yet they're all so different. Being able to sponsor multiple students, you see that they're allowed to become their own person. But the common factor is all of those values that are instilled in them at The School of St Jude; the idea that someone has helped you, now you get to help someone else. Watching them apply that through their own strengths is incredibly rewarding. Whether it's Elia potentially becoming a sportsman, Abdallah in his art element, Happiness wanting to be a bank manager or Samwel aspiring to be a doctor - the school equips them all to do different things, and that's what's most exciting.
Initially, I didn't know a lot about the school beyond what I'd read and heard. But because this is my eighth visit, I've gotten to watch the students grow up and evolve. I've also become involved on another level with the board of the American Friends of The School of St Jude, doing fundraising and tours. This has made me feel really comfortable and passionate about the school, making it easy for me to share what's happening here with different groups in the United States. My comfort level has grown to the point where I can now facilitate things like a FaceTime call for a friend's sponsored student to connect with them during graduation.
You can't describe it. No matter what you try to tell them or what a picture looks like, it's not the same. When they come, they will be forever changed and they'll understand firsthand what the work of the school is. Until they're here, they really don't understand. Once they experience it, they can't help but want to sponsor and support a student, whether it's a partial or full sponsorship. I also reassure them about coming to Tanzania, the school will take care of them, they won't be on their own, and communication isn't an issue. The culture here, where people genuinely take care of each other and share, is something truly remarkable that you only fully grasp by being here.
Every year, St Jude’s conducts health checks for its 1,800 students across three campuses to identify any health concerns, monitor existing conditions, and tailor support for those with specific needs. This year’s Health Check team included some familiar faces, with three St Jude’s alumni returning to give back to the very place where their journeys began.
For Nadia, Class of 2019, coming back was a full-circle moment. “It feels special to come back and contribute to the same process that helped me so much,” she says. “I remember the medical professionals from my own health checks when I was a student, and thinking ‘I’d love to do that one day!”
Nadia joined St Jude’s as a Standard 1 student in 2007 and is now in her fifth and final year of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which consists of a year doing practical internship at Mount Meru Hospital, not far from St Jude’s Sisia Campus. Despite her demanding schedule, Nadia sought special permission to take two weeks of leave from her program to participate in the health checks, knowing it was an opportunity she couldn’t let pass by.
“My internship year is supposed to be uninterrupted, but I was fortunate the hospital team was very supportive and granted me the leave so I could be here,” notes Nadia, who says her passion for pursuing a career in healthcare was forged during her time at St Jude’s.
“I’ve always dreamed of returning to give back, and it’s everything I hoped it would be. I’ve seen students who were in Form 1 when I was in Form 6 who said, ‘Oh Nadia, look at you now!’ and I told them, ‘Everything is possible. You just have to believe in it,’ she says.
Returning alongside Nadia was Erneus, Class of 2020, who vividly recalls his first health check after joining St Jude’s in 2018 as a Form 5 student. “I was so happy as I had never had a check-up like that before. We were advised on how to improve our health, and it was crucial for me. It’s very fulfilling to now be a part of something that helped me in the past.”
After graduating with a degree in Biotechnology and Public Health in 2024, Erneus felt there was no better way to kickstart his career than applying his skills at the place that helped shape his future.
“It’s my first time volunteering in the Health Check team, and I’m learning a lot. It is so rewarding to see the students’ reactions and learn from an international cohort of experts,” says Erneus.
“I have been working in the vision team, helping assess students’ eyesight to identify any issues that could affect their learning ability. If not detected, these issues can grow and start to impact a student’s education, which is why the health checks are so important,” he says.
Like Erneus and Nadia, Winniefreda, from the Class of 2019, also volunteered in the vision team this year. She describes her return to St Jude’s as a homecoming. “I spent so much of my life here,” she says. “Being back feels like coming home. St Jude’s is where I learned and grew, and now I’m able to return the care that I once received.”
In 2023, Winniefreda completed her Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery. She now works at a hospital in Arusha and doubles as a private nurse, providing home care as part of the government’s clinical nursing program.
“It’s incredible to see how much the school has grown. What excites me is knowing that we’re helping students who could very well be the next generation of health professionals. Some of the students we helped this year could be in our position in the future. That’s the power of St Jude’s. It always comes back around,” she says.
Nadia, Winniefreda, and Erneus are prime examples of how a St Jude’s education creates a ripple effect, coming full circle to give back to their communities and inspire future generations.
The scorching heat, rough roads, wild animals, and the risk of getting lost are just some of the challenges awaiting Andrew and his team of six other cyclists. Yet Andrew keeps his good spirits and sense of humour, sharing regular updates on social media as the team begins their gruelling 1,600km cycling adventure across East Africa.
"Our little adventure will support free education for students whose families can't afford it," writes Andrew on one of his social media posts. "Every AU$3,200 we raise can fund one student's education for a year, including stationery, tuition, transport, boarding, extracurricular programs – everything they would need for a successful education. That's a good enough motivation," he shares.
Andrew is no stranger to challenging himself for St Jude's. In 2019, he went on a solo adventure to cycle about 1,600km in East Africa to raise funds for the school. This was followed by another similarly demanding challenge in 2020 with nine other cyclists. When he couldn't travel to East Africa in 2021 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, he rode the Red Hill in Canberra 41 times, equalling the elevation of Africa's tallest mountain, Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
Now, five years since his first solo adventure, Andrew is returning to East Africa for a third round of adventure with six other motivated cyclists. Some are returning from previous expeditions, while a few are joining for the first time. One cyclist, who found the team on Facebook, joined after commenting, "I'm struggling to find a reason not to do this."
Although most of the team is mostly made up of men from older generations with established careers in law, banking, and medicine, this year's trip features a welcome change. One of the members from the previous expedition is bringing his son along for the adventure, making them the first father-son duo to cycle for St Jude's.
"We are particularly delighted to have someone to bring the average age of the team down by a significant amount," notes Andrew. "But we're all scared of him because we think he'll be an awful lot fitter than us old guys!" adds Andrew jokingly.
The adventure is underway, with the team riding from Kigali, Rwanda, heading east across Tanzania. They entered Tanzania a few weeks ago and are now pushing to the northeast corner of the country. In between, they will pass Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake, loop around the iconic Mt Kilimanjaro, and touch the Kenyan border to the east. The route will take them through Arusha, where they will briefly visit St Jude's to see firsthand the impact of their support.
"The ride has been developed in the true spirit of adventure. Each day, we will ride to the next general destination, find somewhere to stay and something to eat, and get up the next day to do it all again!" shares Andrew on his fundraising website.
"By the end of the ride, we will have seen some of what Africa's all about, from the busy cities to villages to farms to Maasai grazing lands to amazing wildlife," he adds.
Andrew and his team are hoping to raise AU$20,000 for St Jude's throughout the cycling adventure. You can follow their progress on Instagram, Facebook, and their website, where they share photos and stories while on the road. By donating or simply sharing their journey, you can be part of this amazing story and help students access quality, holistic education.
Over the past decade, the TechnologyOne Foundation, has been an avid supporter of St Jude’s, fuelling the interest and skills of our students in technology and lending their expertise to streamline office systems. Additionally, TechnologyOne staff have actively participated in various charity and fundraising activities for St Jude’s through the years.
Powering connectivity
Our school’s robust IT infrastructure is made possible through TechnologyOne’s donation, as well as our internet connectivity, IT infrastructure, and licensing for various eLearning programs for students across all our campuses.
Technology support
TechnologyOne donates software programs that assist St Jude’s with budgeting, forecasting, database management, and supply chain management. Their staff also closely collaborates with our Corporate Applications and IT departments in customising technology to meet the school's specific needs.
Supporting STEM learning
TechnologyOne provides ICT and software support that enhances teaching effectiveness in our school and nurtures our students’ digital literacy. In March, TechOne also offered career and study advice for our students, giving them perspectives on the range of career pathways available in the STEM fields and further generating interest in STEM learning at St Jude’s.
The Sunday of October 15 was a special one for Africa, an enthusiastic supporter of St Jude’s. He had just competed in a 10 km run and helped raise over AU$5000 for The School of St Jude.
“I participated in Queensland’s largest fun run to raise funds for St Jude’s,” says Africa. “I completed the run in one piece and raised an impressive AU$5860 – and the count is still rising,” he adds proudly.
Africa, who currently resides in Australia where he works as a senior electrical engineer, has been a long supporter of St Jude’s. He and his wife, Yvette, found out about the school during one of their many trips to Tanzania and immediately became supporters.
Long-Term Supporters: Africa (right) and his wife (left) have been supporters for 19 years!
“St Jude’s dedication to providing quality education to underprivileged children in Tanzania resonates strongly with my values and aspirations,” says Africa. “I know this because I have experienced it first-hand,” he adds.
Africa was born and raised in one of the villages along the slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro, in northern Tanzania. Growing up, he enjoyed playing football and developed a liking for mathematics and science subjects at school.
“Some of my favourite memories were those of my father tutoring me,” shares Africa. “He instilled in me the value of a good education from the beginning. My father would even assign daily learning tasks to reinforce the skills and subjects in the classroom,” he continues.
His father’s efforts paid off and Africa achieved high primary and secondary school results which allowed him to attend the best government schools in Tanzania. This opened up more opportunities for Africa to pursue further studies in the United States and Australia.
“I am deeply grateful to have a parent who believed in the power of education. I want to extend the same spirit to the next generation of aspiring Tanzanian professionals,” says Africa. “This is why I decided to challenge myself in the Bridge2Brisbane fun run this year to raise funds for a cause that is close to my heart,” he adds passionately.
Over the years, Africa and his wife have been ardent supporters of St Jude’s, through sponsorship, organising fundraising activities, and raising awareness. Africa was awarded the Rotary Paul Harris Fellow Award for his dedication to assisting his native community in Tanzania, notably his former primary school and advocacy for St Jude’s.
As long-term sponsors, Africa and his wife, Yvette, have personally experienced the transformative journey of a sponsored student at St Jude’s.
“When I learned of St Jude’s and its mission of fighting poverty through education, my wife and I agreed to sponsor a student. I was the first ever Tanzanian sponsor!” says Africa.
“The student we sponsored recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering,” says Africa happily. “This is particularly special because I am an electrical engineer myself, and it is inspiring to know that I had a role in influencing his career choice to follow in my footsteps,” he adds.
Africa's passion for St Jude's mission also inspired the original Brisbane High Rise Rotary Club visit to St Jude’s in 2012, which has now grown to six visits and more than 100 Rotarians being introduced to St Jude’s.Africa is one of many St Jude’s supporters who have gotten creative in raising funds and awareness for the school. By combining his hobby for athletics and passion for St Jude’s, he found a new way of supporting the school. Like Africa, there are many ways to join the fight against poverty. Our resource page may be a good place to start for aspiring supporters looking to raise funds for St Jude’s.
