"I need to succeed with my education so I can fight poverty and my family can live a sustainable life," says Lopoi, a 20-year-old student from the Maasai region of Monduli, one hour outside Arusha. Lopoi is the third oldest of 19 siblings in a family that is trapped in poverty. Neither of his parents […]
"Education is empowerment," says Tumaini, a single mother raising two children in a cramped single-room house in one of Arusha's poorest suburbs. "With an education you can get a job anywhere. You can do anything." For many Tanzanians, education is out of reach. The average Tanzanian spends just 5.11 years at school and only 35% […]
Bright-eyed seven-year-old Emanuel is a man of the people, as popular on the playgrounds of St Jude's as he is among the adults in the school's office. "Everyone knows Emanuel because he comes into the office every day just to say hello and ask us how we are," says St Jude's Community Service team member […]
Our very own stylish ambassador, Rebel Wilson, proved what a champion she is when she recently conquered a charity challenge on The Ellen Degeneres Show. Not only did Rebel take Ellen’s Fashionable Charity Challenge in her high-heeled stride, she did it to win USD$10,000 for our school. Rebel appeared on the hugely popular show to […]
Our Upper Primary English department hosted the final of its three annual school debates, with the rousing subject of ‘Who Would Make the Best Tanzanian President?'
The entire student body and all our staff got together at our Sisia Campus to celebrate St Jude's Day with an extravaganza of singing, dancing and cultural shows. Our talented students entertained each other with moving and entertaining performances giving thanks to St Jude, the patron saint of lost and desperate causes, and the people […]
Nature, team work and the great outdoors were all part of the hiking experience some of our senior primary students enjoyed last month. More than 20 students took part in a Twiga group hike around the local Moshono area to appreciate the local plant and animal life, as well as learn about hiking etiquette and […]
Due to cerebral palsy, Lightness is unable to use her hands, even for the most basic of tasks. Amazingly, the cheery 13-year-old has adapted to learn, eat – and even paint! - with her feet.
Giving back Justin may only have been at The School of St Jude in Tanzania for the last two years of his secondary schooling, but the impact of that education will last a lifetime. “I came from a government school so I know how much the students need help there,” he said, on the cusp […]
A BOURNEMOUTH woman discovered the power of education for disadvantaged children during a visit to a ‘life-changing’ school in Tanzania. Louise Scott spent two nights at The School of St Jude with her partner George Spring and his daughter, Isabella. After climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Louise and her group paid a visit to the school and […]
It was an insight into the world of medicine many of our eager senior secondary biology students had been waiting for. Six medical specialists from the United States, with experience ranging from ophthalmology to public health, found they were equally impressed with our students’ response to their two-day visit. “(The students) have a great awareness, […]
I went for a jog this afternoon. It may have been hot, bone-dry and dusty, and I shared the animal dung-peppered village paths with all sorts of exhaust-billowing vehicles, but this afternoon's exercise will likely be some of the best I'll ever experience. Because, despite all that, every run my husband and I have taken […]
The School of St Jude has a noble mission: to educate disadvantaged, bright students from the Arusha District to become moral and intellectual leaders in their country and for St Jude's to thereby demonstrate educational leadership in Tanzania. To make it happen, the nonprofit provides a quality education to 150 new students every year - […]
The School of St Jude in northern Tanzania fights poverty through education. You won’t find it highlighted in glossy travel brochures but it’s a memorable destination and a worthwhile experience. While not the journey, it can be a fulfilling detour. The story of St Jude’s has been told through its inspiring and indefatigable founder, Gemma […]
Gemma Sisia grew up with six brothers on an Australian farm, riding horses and motorbikes, trout fishing, and swimming in waterfalls. Her parents passed on to her a strong sense of justice and the desire to help others. After college, Gemma worked as a teacher in a rural school in Uganda. There, she experienced an […]
More than 100 parents, teachers and students from 11 neighboring schools visited our Moshono campus for the biggest ever extra-curricular activities fair, which offered interactive stalls, interschool sports and a theatre showcase.
Two students are leading the way for career-driven females with an invitation to an exclusive camp held by the US Department of State, Intel, Microsoft, Girl Up and the Rwanda Girls Initiative. Form 6 student Emiliana and Form 3 student Neema are attending WiSci: Girls STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) Camp, a three-week […]
A year after heading to South Africa on an African Leadership Academy scholarship, former St Jude’s student Liston was back to share his education through a weekend leadership course at Smith campus. The two-day, ALA-initiated camp is designed to help ambitious students problem-solve via a grassroots structure. Called “BUILD in a Box”, the course is […]
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.
In what is becoming a popular way of saying ‘thanks’ to St Jude’s, a group of 23 student parents recently volunteered their time to help keep the Moshono campus beautiful. Christopher, whose daughter Neema is currently in Form 6 at Smith campus, was one of those parents who helped out with school maintenance. He said […]
The results from our first ever Form 6 national exams have been released and the achievements are inspiring. Years of dedication has paid off for our incredible students, who all passed, with more than half of them achieving the highest possible mark of 'Distinction'. The class also ranked in the top 10% in Tanzania for […]
Five St Jude’s Form 6 students attended the JuniorTukkie Empowerment Week at South Africa’s University of Pretoria and described the experience as life-changing.
A FEW years ago, Kim Saville was working in a high-profile job in film and television casting, finding future stars for shows including Water Rats and Murder Call. These days you will find her in the foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro, surrounded by smiling, bright-eyed Tanzanian children from The School of St Jude. It’s a dramatic […]
For the past six years the students of one Rockhampton school have had a very special connection to a school in Tanzania. Rockhampton Grammar School Teacher Wendy Goldston has encouraged her students to fundraise for the School of St Jude in Tanzania which was started in 2002 by Australian Gemma Sisia.
It was 13 years in the making, and it lived up to the hype. Supporters from around the world flew to Arusha on Saturday to celebrate The School of St Jude’s first ever Form 6 graduation.The milestone event saw the 61 students, proudly draped in gowns of navy blue and canary yellow and wearing matching […]
Thirteen years after opening with just three students, St Jude's has produced its first ever Form 6 graduation class. These students, who come from impoverished backgrounds, will become the future doctors, teachers, scientists and leaders of Tanzania. Get to know the Class of 2015 by looking through our inaugural Year Book.
Students shared their high school memories with visitors and sponsors as part of an "Achievement Exhibition", which was one of the highlights of Thursday's graduation celebrations.
There is an air of trepidation when speaking to a soon-to-be graduate of St Jude’s. Like most final year students, there is a mix of nervousness around finishing up school and excitement about taking their first tentative steps into the “real world” as adults. However, the Form 6 class of 2015 of The School of […]
There had to be something special happening at St Jude’s to lure our very first teacher back. Australian volunteer Angela Bailey fondly remembers her first time living in the Arusha and volunteering at the school, so the chance to offer further support to some of the very same students she taught back in those early […]
Raspberry Pi may have taken out top prize, but this was certainly no cooking competition. The School of St Jude’s 5th annual Science Day, which featured more than 100 entries in another successful year, was topped by Venance in 4C and Martin in 3H for their “Smart House with Raspberry Pi”. Venance and Martin spent […]
Seven savvy and enthusiastic lower primary teachers have been chosen as English “champions” for St Jude’s lower and upper primary school. The teachers all achieved a “good” mark for their use of English in the classroom, when evaluated by ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) teacher Mel Lamus at the beginning of the year. […]
One of the biggest events in the history of St Jude’s is getting closer and closer. Our first ever Form 6 class will graduate on May 30 in a ceremony that has been 13 years in the making. Last Wednesday, the excited students took another major step towardsfinishing their schooling when they completed their final […]
“Commitment is the moment in life when you seize opportunities and use them to alter your life and destiny”. Alex Elifas is a contemplative soul and his impending graduation in May is providing him cause to be even more reflective than usual. “St Jude’s has built a big part of my personality”, he says, “Who […]
2014 was a big year for our Form 4 students. They spent it applying themselves to studies that ranged from history to chemistry to biology. Our students began the New Year with feelings of anticipation as they eagerly awaited their exam results to see if all of their hard work paid off. Finally, the results […]
For 13 years we have been working towards this day - the day we commemorate our first Form 6 graduates leaving behind their school teachers, school books and school uniforms and heading into the world beyond the school gates. These proud young men and women will celebrate their graduation on Saturday, May 30, 2015, with […]
Mary always had the talent and determination to become a future leader of Tanzania. Thanks to St Jude's, she now has the opportunity. The phenomenal 14-year-old was the top student out of 359 Standard 7s in her severely under-resourced primary school but would not have been able to finish high school without St Jude's. Her […]
Our Sponsor Relations team is the biggest team in the business office at St Jude‘s. We have are made up of people from all over the globe; Australia, America, Ireland, the UK, working alongside eight fantastic Tanzanians. St Jude‘s Sponsors provide some of the much-needed support to ensure that each of our students has the […]
We have just witnessed the excitement of the happiest people in Arusha at the moment! Our new students, starting at St Jude’s in January, received their first set of brand new St Jude’s uniforms! This is always the most joyful day in the school calendar as the gift of these uniforms signifies the start to […]
Form 5 student Elias’s remote Maasai village has already started hailing him as the doctor. They hold faith in this promising young man and his determination to work in the medical field to help his own people. “My aim of becoming a doctor is to help myself, to help with my society, to help Tanzania […]
We are so grateful for 25 new sponsors who have stepped forward to provide our students with a free, high - quality education. It is exciting to think of the possibilities that now lie before these students who will start at St Jude‟s in January. Imagine how their lives will change! With an education these […]
We are extremely proud of three secondary students who have achieved exceptional results in a national essay competition. Form 4 students Julieth, Pius and Ebenezer wrote wonderful and insightful essays on ‘The Role of Standards in Promoting Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security and Trade in Africa.’ All three were in the top 10 national winners with […]
19-Nov-2014 As many of you will have heard, the Ebola virus has claimed more than 4,000 lives during the current epidemic in West Africa. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 9,000 people have been infected during the outbreak. Even though the outbreak has only affected three countries out of 54, Arusha and the whole […]
Hundreds of students have decked out in colourful costumes to celebrate St Jude’s Day recently, showing their appreciation for the free, high-quality education they receive at the school. Primary and secondary students did traditional African dances, including Maasai and other performances, which expressed their happiness at being able to study at St Jude’s and their […]
Almost a quarter of young women aged 15-24 today (116 million) in developing countries have never completed primary school and, consequently, lack the skills necessary for gaining meaningful employment (source: UNESCO). Those who miss out on going to school soon lose hope, and are forced to give up their career aspirations. Yet, when you ‘educate a woman, […]
The School of St Jude proudly celebrated the graduation of its third intake of Form 4 students who are excitedly preparing to embark on their senior studies. 600 people attended the event recently to see the graduation of 126 Form 4 students at St Jude's Smith Campus. Parents happily watched on as the students received […]
A CASINO librarian has collected enough books to fill a shipping container and is now hoping to raise $10,000 to build a library to house them in a remote Tanzanian village. Taryn Kelly worked at a school in Tanzania in 2005 and since her return to Australia in 2007 she has been collecting books to send […]
You spot an awesome job at an NGO and think you tick all the boxes, so you apply and are confident that you will get the job. But you miss out and don’t understand why. What’s missing from your application? Why is it being overlooked? In my eight years of working in human resources and […]
While taking a ‘gap year’ is a concept more common amongst school leavers and ‘twenty-somethings’ experiencing an existential crisis, taking 12 months off to travel the globe isn’t just a Gen Y rite of passage. As Peter and Denise Barnett discovered, the world is your oyster no matter how old you are. The journey After […]
When you become a sponsor at St Jude’s, you become a key part of a student’s amazing educational journey. Your sponsorship covers the essentials like textbooks, accommodation and meals but so much more. You become an extended part of your sponsor child’s family as they are so welcoming and appreciative that you have chosen to […]
St Jude’s is excited to be an official partner in this year’s #GivingTuesday, a global day of charitable giving that will take place on December 2, 2014. What is #GivingTuesday? #GivingTuesday is a global movement dedicated to giving back. On Tuesday, December 2, 2014, charities, families, businesses, communities and individuals around the world will come together for […]
Meet Juliana, an incredibly bright and ambitious 6-year-old who is one of 150 new students starting at St Jude’s in January. These students have been selected because they are from the poorest families in the Arusha Region, and have shown that they have the ability and attitude to make the most of this opportunity. Watch […]
Behind the happy, smiling faces of our students is often a hardworking Mama, father or guardian who is doing all that they can to provide for their families. Frank is in Standard 5 and is currently boarding at our school, with access to everything he needs; accommodation, room to study and daily meals. St Jude’s […]
Australian actress Rebel Wilson, known for her roles in Pitch Perfect and Bridesmaids, has visited Tanzania to meet her sponsored student Winnie for the first time. The two have been sharing letters, gifts and photos for over eight years as Rebel has tried to help Winnie and her family escape the cycle of poverty by sponsoring her high-quality […]
She's famous for making people laugh, but Rebel Wilson has also proved she also has a big heart. The 28-year-old actress is in South Africa filming her new movie Grimsby with Sacha Baron Cohen. But the Pitch Perfect star took some time out from her hectic shooting schedule to visit her sponsor child Winnie in Tanzania.
It’s not all work and no play for Rebel Wilson, who took a break from filming to go on safari in Africa. The 28-year-old Aussie actress is currently filming the comedy Grimsby in Cape Town, South Africa, but managed to sneak a peak at the wildlife. Wilson shared the experience, posing from her tour vehicle […]
She's busy filming new comedy flick Grimsby in Cape Town. But on Monday Rebel Wilson took a break from the set to go on a 'Super Fun' African adventure. The 28-year-old took to Twitter to document a safari trip in Tanzania - one that saw her up close and personal with lions and elephants.
