St Jude’s graduate Tumaini is taking a stand against physical discipline while volunteering at his local government school.

Through his Mentoring and Networking Program at Baraa Secondary School, Tumaini is encouraging teachers to lose the canes and adopt non-violent forms of discipline.

“Teachers take those students that they have a negative perception of and the main punishment that they give them is caning. Physical punishment is not a good punishment,” Tumaini said, explaining that he has refused to punish in such a way and is trying to sway colleagues to opt for more encouraging solutions.

“I told them that when you want to change (the students’) mentality you have to deal with them psychologically and not physically. Since strokes are given on hands, some students fail to even hold a pen and write, and some of them start avoiding classes.”

The idea came to the Beyond St Jude’s community service student and fellow program founding teacher Peter as they agreed that physical punishment such as caning, which is still common practice in Tanzanian public schools, is no way to encourage students.

In the second half of his community service year, Tumaini is proving himself to be a community-focused leader with strong skills and values.

He said he knows non-violent punishment works, as he has seen it for himself at St Jude’s, where physical punishment has never existed.

“St Jude’s is an example to be followed as far as educating a child goes. If I had remained in my former school before St Jude’s, I would have been failing like these students because I started out as a failure but got better and better and started excelling when I got to St Jude’s,” he explained.

“This is a lesson to me that a student isn’t the one to blame; instead, he/she should be given a chance to be listened and understand his troubles as they could be the reason for his failure.”

Proof in his theory is already showing… Tumaini said the most rewarding and enjoyable part of his internship proves it.

“The positive interactions with students, and the bond created between me and the students, has caused even the chronic absentees to start attending my lessons.”

Graduates like Tumaini are reaching more than 10,000 students at local government schools. Support them by donating to the Beyond St Jude’s fund.

All Filip Yip needed was a visit to St Jude’s, and he was “in love instantaneously”.

Ever since, the illustrator/designer by trade has been looking for a way to help our school fight poverty through education, and his latest business turned out to be just the right avenue.

Filip’s new venture combines his passion for exotic teas, a fondness for sourcing products from little known developing countries and a desire to help people in need.

He launched NOUS Tea in December 2015, offering a premium organic selection of blends with a $1 donation to St Jude’s or fellow charity Namlo International (for earthquake relief in Nepal) from each package sold.

“We took a tour at St Jude's and fell in love instantaneously with the premises, especially the fleet of colorful school buses,” Filip said, explaining that he had travelled to Arusha with a Tanzanian colleague for market research on their university business concept. “The academic achievement of the students is very impressive and inspiring! Since then I have been looking for an opportunity to collaborate with St Jude’s.”

The trip was also a valuable step along Filip’s emerging career path, with the business concept earning them third place at the prestigious Chicago Booth New Venture Challenge Business Plan Competition in 2010.

After creating visual brand assets for almost two decades, Filip said it was five years ago when he was recruited to rebrand a tea in the UK where the seeds for NOUS were sown.

His NOUS research led him to the advantages of sourcing teas from “neglected origins”.

“There is always a poor cousin next door (to countries with well-established tea reputations such as Darjeeling), who do not get the same love due to their underdeveloped economy and infrastructure. State borders are only imaginary and political boundary does not divide climate or soil composition,” he explained. “Teas from Myanmar taste a lot like their counterparts from Yunnan; teas from Tanzania are comparable to those from Kenya; and teas from Nepal have the same characteristics of those from Darjeeling's...etc.”

Filip (pictured) said the advantages of sourcing teas from these areas include being organic and non-GMO.

“Teas from trees not grown industrially are in fact more flavorful, thanks to the soil that is not depleted of nutrients nor polluted by chemicals. Merchants and farmers in these regions are also keen to work with importers because of their desire for economic growth,” he said.

“This is one area where we can squeeze some budget out for charity. We get clean, delicious teas at a lower cost, and experiment with reducing marketing cost to further increase charity contribution.”

Filip said it will also be an interesting challenge to see if they can raise awareness of their product though communities such as St Jude’s supporters, as effectively as traditional marketing campaigns.

“We are starting really lean, yet we are super ambitious in being generous, $1 a box for donation is a big chunk of revenue. No big established multinational brands can afford that kind of social commitment,” he said.

“We want to give back to the communities we source tea from in a meaningful manner, and education is definitely one area that’s proven to be effective in reducing poverty in the neediest population.”

New York-based NOUS tea is currently exploring new avenues to ensure more people around the world can purchase from their selection and support charity. Go to www.NOUStea.com to make your order, and have it delivered anywhere.

The kind folks at NOUS tea have also made a special offer for St Jude’s supporters. Make your order with this discount code - stjudes25 - and enjoy 25% off the total purchase.

Proud parents rejoiced when they saw their children, dressed in new school uniforms and ready for their free, high-quality education at St Jude’s.

Chosen from the most underprivileged families in the Arusha district, these students already understand the importance of being chosen to receive a free education that ranks in the top 10% in Tanzania.

St Jude’s employees and volunteers rolled up their sleeves to distribute fresh new uniforms to the delighted children, who then showed their parents and lined up for their first official photos.

“We are so pleased to welcome a new group of keen young students to St Jude’s. This is always a very exciting time of the year,” school founder Gemma Sisia said.

“I couldn’t imagine a better way to start the school year than seeing the faces of these students and their parents light up on Uniform Day.”

New student mothers Elizabeth and Ava agreed.

“I’m ecstatic, so excited Jenipha is going to St Jude’s,” Elizabeth said.

“She will have an opportunity at this school to go to secondary level and be such a good help for the family, and it will give her an opportunity to teach others and be a good example of how we need to prioritise education.”

“I am so happy, beyond explanation,” Ava said.

“Colin getting an education will help sustain our life, and that of our community.”

Over the 14 years St Jude’s has provided an education to underprivileged children, our selection process has been refined to ensure those most deserving are enrolled.

“We welcome bright students who have demonstrated aptitude and dedication to their education,” Gemma said.

“It’s a fair and thorough process to ensure students and their families, as well as their sponsors, receive the upmost benefit of a St Jude’s education.”

The annual selection process began in August last year with almost 7000 hopeful students applying. These successful new students have been selected for their academic ability, social and leadership qualities and financial disadvantage.

Join us in welcoming our bright new students to the St Jude’s family in 2016.

Our amazing Form 6 graduates only finished school in May but they are already making a massive difference in their local communities.

St Jude's first ever graduating class is tackling the problems in Tanzania's education system head on by volunteering as teachers at severely under-resourced government schools.

Our photographers recently joined the Beyond St Jude's team as they traveled to the schools participating in the program.

They were moved by the level of appreciation shown by the students and teachers being helped by our graduates.

“The two (graduates) from St Jude’s should be your model,” the principal of Baraza Secondary School told his staff and students.

“They joined St Jude’s from government schools like ours here. Because of their total dedication in fulfilling their dreams they are here today rendering this noble service to our school."

The work has also helped our graduates, who are regularly teaching classes of more than 40 students while dealing with a lack of resources.

“To teach students is not easy work," said Alfani, who has been volunteering at Moshono Secondary School. “You need to be committed and hard-working and be co-operative with teachers and students."

The aim is to improve education in Tanzania, where less than 2.4% of people graduate high school and overcrowded classrooms have an average of 46 students per teacher.

"I have realised why many students in Tanzania fail so much," said Tumaini, who has been volunteering as a maths teacher at his local high school.

"Coming from a school like St Jude's, I did not anticipate this level of difficulty. The whole process of teaching in these government schools should change. St Jude’s is an example to be followed as far as educating a child goes.”

St Jude’s encourages students to give back to their communities and volunteering at government schools gives them an understanding of the issues facing Tanzania.

“There is a real need for change in government schools,” said Joshua, who is teaching biology in classes with more than 60 students. “When you compare this school with St Jude’s, they really need something extra.”

The Community Service Year runs until next June, but the interns are already seeing the benefits.

“The act of giving back is so satisfying,” said Amos, who has been teaching maths. “I sleep every night with peace knowing someone’s future is possible because of me.”

"This is a chance for the graduates to show their appreciation for the education they've received," said Angela Bailey, Beyond St Jude's manager.

"They are giving back to their communities, using the skills they have learnt from their free education."

Get the chance to find out firsthand about the Community Service Year when Form 6 graduate Dorice tours Australia with Gemma next March and April.

Kim is Heading to America!

This fall, Kim Saville, our Director of International Relations, returns to the States to share remarkable stories of our students and the school with as many supporters as possible.

Having been a Director at the school, Kim has worked alongside Founder, Gemma Sisia, since the early days and has great stories of our school’s growth and development. She would love to share them with as many people as possible. As an experienced and passionate speaker, Kim would make a wonderful addition to your Rotary Club meeting, workplace gathering, school function or special event.

Do you know of an American event in October or November that could benefit from an inspiring guest speaker? Would you like to organize an event during which Kim can share one of the good news stories from Africa this year?

Email us as soon as possible to ensure you are part of her coast-to-coast itinerary!

Fourteen gifted St Jude’s students proved their skills at last month’s national Union Sports Secondary Schools competition, helping the Arusha and Manyara (NW) zone finish third.

The 135-strong Arusha and Manyara team took first place in boys’ athletics, and second in girls’ basketball and girls’ athletics. They placed third overall, as well as third in girls’ volleyball and drama/ngoma. The team also received a special award for cleanliness and behaviour during the competition, held in Mwanza, Tanzania’s second largest city.

St Jude’s Form 6 student Denis was particularly outstanding, winning both triple jump and long jump. He qualified to represent Tanzania at the  East African secondary schools sports’ competitions (FIASA), expected to be held in Rwanda in August.

The competition, which is known by its Kiswahili acronym UMISSETA, aims to identify the best budding sports talents in Tanzania.

St Jude’s PE teacher Ali Rashid Juma participated as Meru District UMISSETA Coordinator, and music teacher Vencheslao Mgani helped as a trainer for the drama/ngoma and singing zone group.

Firmin A. Kiwale, St Jude’s Religion and Vocation Skills Head of Department, said the final 14 representatives emerged from the 56 St Jude’s students who represented the district team.

“They’ve gone from the sub-zonal, to the district, to the regional competition,” he said, explaining the hard work their group had committed to the national competition.

“We are an academic institution, but we encourage (the students’) other talents. We try to make sure there is a balance. Generally, all who went were happy with the organization and thankful to the school and anyone who, in one way or another, supported them in attaining that level.”

Congratulations to all the talented students involved, and we wish Denis all the best in his pursuit of success at FIASA.

See how else our students are excelling outside the St Jude's gates.