A group of our alumni just secured funding ranging from TZS1 million to more than TZS20 million? Through the Next Frontier and Small Grants Program, The School of St Jude is helping alumni turn their ideas into real, scalable ventures. The Tester Grants, now supporting Cohorts 1 and 2, are empowering young innovators to strengthen their businesses, expand their reach and create impact within their communities.
Cohort 1 Achievers
Alumni from the first cohort are already taking bold steps forward.
These entrepreneurs will use their grants to upgrade operations and expand their customer base. As Faith shared:
“With this funding, I can optimise production and elevate packaging, strengthening our brand’s market presence and consumer trust.”
In the non-profit space, Tabitha (Class of ’20, New Hope Centre) will enhance and expand her organisation’s community initiatives for greater social impact. Meanwhile, Robert (Class of ’23, Denk Innovations) and David (Class of ’22, Ask IT) will boost their tech solutions, positioning their start-ups for growth in competitive markets.
Cohort 2: Bigger awards, bigger impact
The second cohort saw an even greater momentum, with top awards reaching TZS22 million. Visionary alumni such as Livingstone (Class of ’20, Mclive Farm Smart), Brian (Class of ’20, Meru Safi Sunflower Oil) and Denis (Class of ’17, Okkota 255 Investment) are now driving large-scale impact in agribusiness and local enterprise.
Brian shared:
“This support has not only accelerated my business growth but will also create jobs within my community.”
Other promising ventures funded in Cohort 2 include:
These ventures demonstrate that alumni-led businesses can thrive and generate a meaningful impact, regardless of their size or sector. The Tester Grants act as a launchpad, helping young entrepreneurs transform ideas into real, sustainable enterprises.
As Godfrey noted:
“This funding does more than support our projects financially. It validates our vision and empowers us to create sustainable impact for Tanzania and beyond.”
To access grants, the program is not just looking for ideas, but for alumni who already have:
If you’re an alum with a powerful idea and skin in the game, this could be your moment. Applications for Cohort 3 will open in February 2026 don’t miss out! . Reach out for more information at incubatorandgrants@schoolofstjude.co.tz
There's truly nothing more inspiring than a powerful networking experience and witnessing your own community pay it forward. Imagine the excitement when alumni, who once walked the halls of St Jude's, returned as volunteer mentors for Alumni Career Week at Smith Campus.
Over five structured days, students learned directly from alumni across diverse career fields. They walked away with life-changing tips, insights and lessons that we can all learn from and apply in our own journeys.
Stay curious
The week kicked off with a session on IT, AI and data science, where alumni highlighted the power of curiosity in a fast-changing world. “I wasn’t the smartest in my class,” Zuberi class of 17‘ admitted, “but I was hungry to learn and that made all the difference.”
Now a freelance Software engineer, he urged students to try new things. When he first joined African Leadership University in Rwanda, he felt out of place, but he pushed himself to adapt, ask questions, and stay engaged. That openness helped him build strong networks connections that have grown into long-term friendships and continue to support his his career today.”
All alumni facilitators in that sector, reminded students that technology evolves daily, and therefore they need to keep seeking online short-term courses to sharpen and upgrade their skills, reminding students that continuous learning is key to staying relevant in the tech industry.
Empathy and service set you apart
In the health and medicine session, alumni emphasised that success in healthcare goes beyond academic excellence or making lots of money. It is rooted in compassion. They discussed how the industry is rapidly evolving and offers far more than traditional roles, such as those of doctors and nurses. The industry spans public health, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, digital health, telemedicine and health-focused entrepreneurship, all driven by innovation and new technologies. For youth today, this means opportunities are beyond patient care.
Think like innovators, not just job seekers
When it came to engineering, the focus shifted to creativity and real-world problem-solving. Alumni challenged students to view engineering as more than equations, it's about finding solutions that make life better. They encouraged curiosity-driven thinking and innovation, showing that these skills open doors in any career path. Eliamani class of 21‘ summed it up perfectly: "Your degree is just your foundation. The real learning happens when you start applying it."
“I had a degree in Engineering, but instead of waiting for employment, I chose to create something of my own. I focused on what I was good at studying healthy hair growth, learning the right ingredients, and taking courses to strengthen my knowledge. Today, I’ve developed my own hair product called Luxy Naturals Hair Oil.” Says Mwanaidi class of 21‘
Starting from scratch
Midweek’s Entrepreneurship session brought forward powerful, grounded stories of humble beginnings and a reminder that success does not always follow a straight line from a bachelor’s degree. Boniphace class of 16‘ now the owner of a thriving bar and lounge, emphasized the value of embracing every opportunity while at St Jude’s. He explained that participation in activities such as music, ngoma, public speaking, and other co-curricular experiences builds confidence, interpersonal skills, and adaptability core competencies that later translate into entrepreneurial success.
He highlighted that these seemingly simple school experiences can open unexpected doors, shape leadership abilities, and create networks that become invaluable in business.
Thriving outside your field of study
The week wrapped up with sessions on business, law and education, fields that shape communities. Francisco class of 17‘ originally a PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) student, exemplifies the power of curiosity and continuous learning. After completing his secondary studies, he pursued a degree in Business and joined the Tanzania Revenue Authority. Not content to rely solely on his initial academic background, he proactively explored auditing acquiring specialized knowledge to enhance his professional expertise and excel in his field.
Alumni emphasised that flexibility, networking and continuous learning can lead to success even outside one's original field. In today's competitive labour market, adaptability isessential.
Inspired by these stories? Take the next step in your journey and connect with us at alumni@schoolofstjude.co.tz
Usually, Valentines’ Day is a time to think about someone special to you and show them that you care. This Valentines’ Day, Noela and Bill Philips and the Brisbane High-Rise Rotary Club thought of The School of St Jude!
In partnership with Maison Fleur florists, these super supporters hit the road to deliver beautiful flower arrangements, with a portion of the proceeds, totalling more than AU $1000, donated to St Jude’s.
Noela describes the motivation behind the successful fundraiser, “Brisbane High-Rise Rotary Club has been a long term supporter of St Jude’s. The club members who have visited St Jude’s saw firsthand how poverty strips away educational dreams from children who have a right to learn, to achieve and to live a dignified life. To change a child’s life with education is one of the greatest gifts a Rotary Club can give.”
The florists from Maison Fleur prepared 112 arrangements, each complete with a tag indicating the delivery address and the phone number of the recipient. Then, the Rotary volunteers stepped in, delivered the arrangements by car and on foot all over the Brisbane CBD.
“We are never short of volunteers, such is the enjoyment we get from delivering beautiful arrangements to very surprised recipients,” says Noela.
In addition to this enjoyment, the volunteers also got a lot of exercise on their delivery routes.
“This year, I walked 13 km, however, nobody is expected to do more than they are capable of. Some Rotarians might walk for 1 hour – every little bit helps the St Jude’s cause!” Noela explains.
By the end of the day, the volunteers were exhausted, but felt, “a huge sense of achievement,” says Noela. “Firstly, achievement in the sense that we are helping St Jude’s, secondly, the fact we professionally delivered all our floral arrangements on behalf of Maison Fleur on time and safely, and thirdly, achieving what Brisbane High-Rise Rotarians love doing most - helping others.”
This wasn’t the first fundraiser of its type, in fact, this is the fourth time that Brisbane High-Rise Rotary Club and Maison Fleur have teamed up to raise funds for St Jude’s.
But this isn’t the only way Noela, Bill and their fellow Rotary club members support St Jude’s. The Rotary club sponsors the academic scholarship of Form 5 student, Irene, while Bill and Noela sponsor the academic scholarship of Tumaini, who is in Form 6. When Tumaini graduates from secondary school in May, Noela and Bill will be making the trip to Arusha to celebrate with her.
“I am frankly ‘over the moon’ to think I will be meeting Tumaini in May,” Noela says. “I truly can’t wait for this adventure to commence.”
Since 2012, Noela and Bill have visited St Jude’s six times, bringing 79 friends, family and fellow Rotarians with them, many of whom are now sponsors too!
The School of St Jude is incredibly grateful to Noela, Bill and the teams from Brisbane High-Rise Rotary Club and Maison Fleur for running such a sweet-smelling fundraiser.
“Seeing parliamentarians in action was mind blowing,” says Vivian who manages the Beyond St Jude’s team.
Vivian was among 60 delegates from The School of St Jude, including its founder, Gemma Sisia, who were invited by the Speaker to visit the Parliament of Tanzania.
The Parliament of Tanzania is in Dodoma, a region that’s located in the center of the country and is also the country’s capital. It takes approximately six hours by road to travel from St Jude’s, which is in Arusha, Northern Tanzania to Dodoma.
“We arrived at parliament in the early morning and we were shown where to sit. This was my first time to visit the Parliament of Tanzania. I always watch the parliament sessions on TV, but to actually see how the parliament works was an amazing experience.” Vivian reiterates.
“The Speaker introduced the St Jude’s delegates to the parliamentarians, and they were all excited to meet us. The highlight for me was when our Urban Arusha Constituency MP, Hon Mrisho Gambo, came to say hello to us and introduced us to many other government officials including the Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Hon Joyce Ndalichako.”
“The visit to parliament gave us a chance to tell the officials our own story who were all moved by the school's mission. I think it's important for the government to understand who we are and what we do for the country. St Jude's mission is aligned with the government's mission, and through the government's support, we will pursue the same goal of providing free, quality education to bright, poor Tanzanians.”
The country’s Education and Training Policy 2014* directs public bodies to ensure that education is free for all Tanzanian children. This includes the removal of all forms of fees and contributions in primary and secondary government schools. However, whilst most fees are covered, including exam fees, indirect costs for government school students still remain, such as textbooks, uniforms and school lunches.
“I had a chance to meet and speak with the Minister for Education, Science and Technology. It was great to share my story with her,” says Boniface, a St Jude’s alum.
“Most of the government officials didn’t know about St Jude’s and only a few of them have heard the name, thinking it’s just an ordinary school. As someone who received a free, quality education at St Jude's, I believe this has changed their perspective and allowed them to learn more about the school's positive impact on the community. Tanzania needs to learn more about St Jude's mission,” he adds.
Mama Eliza, a parent leader who also serves as a member on the girls’ secondary school board, was also excited to meet the minister: “It was a privilege to meet her. I am just one of many stories of how St Jude's can change someone's life."
Mama Eliza is one of five parent leaders overseeing a larger committee of nearly 50 volunteer parent representatives. Parent representatives act as a communication link between parents or guardians and the school management.
“I shared my experience with the minister of how St Jude’s has helped turned my life around. Before my daughter received an academic scholarship, I used to be a hawker selling vegetables. Now, my life has changed, we moved from a mud house to a brick house and I now have a small shop still selling vegetables and other things,” she adds.
“I believe this visit will open doors for St Jude's. If more government officials know about the school, they can help the school accomplish its mission.”
Visitors are invited by the Parliament of Tanzania at the Speaker’s discretion. Receiving this invitation was an honour and a great opportunity to spread the word about St Jude’s to more government officials.
“It was a positive visit. Gemma managed to present in front of the Minister of Education, Science and Technology. It’s a rare occasion to get an audience with ministers,” says William, a staff representative and a member of girls’ secondary school board.
“The most important thing for an institution like ours is to be known by government officials. This visit has made the government realise that there other institutions that are supporting the education system.”
The excitement was high, especially for St Jude’s students as this was their first time to visit the Parliament of Tanzania. The delegation also had the opportunity to tour parliament house and learn about the history of the building as well as how current sessions are conducted.
Josephat and David, who are in Standard 1 and 2 respectively, were among the students who were picked to be part of the visit, “I enjoyed watching the Speaker running the parliament session,” David says.
Josephat and David are the youngest and newest students and this visit is one they will never forget.
“We got to take photos with the Prime Minister, other ministers and our Urban Arusha Constituency MP, Hon Mrisho Gambo,” Josephat and David shout together excitedly.
“The visit has motivated me to study hard. When I grow up I would like to be the President,” Josephat adds.
The visit to the Parliament of Tanzania has helped to spread the word about St Jude's work to some of Tanzania’s most important leaders. It is also a big step forward in raising awareness about the school's mission of educating bright, poor Tanzanians and empowering them to become community-focused leaders who will find solutions to assist the 45 million Tanzanians living in poverty.
You can share our story and help raise awareness about St Jude’s both locally and internationally! Share our story with your friends and family today!
