January 31, 2025

A bright future at St Jude’s

Agripina, a newly enrolled student at St Jude's, reflects on her journey.

New Beginning: Agripina settling into life at St Jude's

Before joining St Jude’s, 14-year-old Agripina’s day used to start at the crack of dawn. First, she checks on her elderly grandmother, cleans around the house, and tends to livestock. Afterward, she prepares her younger sister, and the pair would begin the 30-minute walk to school, often arriving early enough for Agripina to squeeze in about an hour of personal study before class.

"I have always maintained a strict daily schedule to balance my studies and chores at home," explains Agripina, one of the new students at St Jude's. "There was hardly enough time in the day to do everything so I had to get creative with my time," she adds.

For example, after school, Agripina stays a few more hours for personal studies and dedicates her free time on weekends to group discussions and additional studies. To make the most of her long commute, she would discuss lessons with schoolmates along the way. Her discipline, consistency, and hard work paid off as Agripina maintained the top position in her class throughout her primary school education.

In Tanzania, primary education is the first seven years of school, from Standard 1 to 7. At the end of Standard 7, students sit for a series of standardised national exams. Those who pass may be eligible to attend government school to continue with secondary education.

"If I made it to secondary school, I’d be the first in my family to do so," says Agripina. "But first, I had to pass the national examinations," she adds.

 Agripina doubled down on her already tight schedule in preparation for her national exams, dedicating every moment of her free time to her studies. She would study by the fire while preparing family dinner, stay up late, and organise a small discussion group with classmates from the same neighbourhood. Her efforts eventually paid off, and Agripina passed her national examinations with remarkable results.

However, passing the Standard 7 national examination doesn't necessarily guarantee a spot in secondary school.

“Passing my Standard 7 exams was only the first step,” explains Agripina. “Next, I had to hope and wait for the government to allocate me to a school. This part is tricky because it’s completely out of my control,” she adds.

Lover of Books: One of Agripina's favourite places on campus is the school library.

In Tanzania, government schools provide the most affordable education; they don’t charge school fees, but parents are expected to contribute to food, transport, stationery, uniforms, and other costs. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough secondary schools in Tanzania to match the growing number of primary school graduates. National data indicates only one secondary school for every four primary schools. It’s not uncommon for students to miss out on secondary education despite passing their exams due to the limited spots/places available.

Furthermore, secondary schools are often located far from students’ homes, making access even more challenging.

“I knew plenty of students, especially girls, who passed their exams but still didn’t make it to secondary school,” recalls Agripina. “It was scary to think that I could potentially end up in the same spot,” she adds.

Luckily for Agripina, she didn’t have to wait for the government's allocation. Her remarkable results caught the attention of St Jude’s, which promptly sent her an invitation to apply for a scholarship. In no time, she was on her way to one of St Jude’s centres to try her luck.

“It was quite an experience. There were so many students with their parents and guardians. St Jude’s took care of everything—transportation, food, and accommodation—since we had to spend the night and start the application process the following morning," she shares.

Agripina went through academic testing and excelled in all of them. Next came a pre-house check and document screening to determine her eligibility for the next steps. The last phase was a home visit by
St Jude’s staff for poverty assessment to determine whether the student’s family meets the school's scholarship criteria. This thorough process ensures that the most deserving students with exceptional academic potential make it through the scholarship program.

We Made It: Students that have made it past the first round of the scholarship application go through a “tunnel of honour” created by St Jude's staff.

Out of over 2,000 students who applied for a scholarship at St Jude’s, Agripina was one of the 194 who eventually made it to the end.

“Joining St Jude’s makes all my hard work worth it,” she reflects. “I’ve only been here a few days, but I already love the school, the teachers, and my fellow students,” she adds happily.

Agripina aspires to become a doctor. Fittingly, she has joined St Jude’s Secondary Girls’ School, which boasts well-equipped science laboratories, excellent sports and academic programs, and a thriving science culture. With her discipline, determination, and access to St Jude’s resources, there’s no doubt she’ll achieve her dreams.

Your donation enables promising future Tanzanian leaders like Agripina, a chance to achieve their potential and support their communities. Donate today.

Replies

  1. Hello Agripina,

    Reading your journey, learning of your determination to better yourself and family. I am very proud of you, I only give a little to St Jude but through you a fortune. Congratulations

  2. Well done Agripina , what an inspiring story. I am sure you will do well at St Jude's & we wish you all the very best as you strive to become a doctor. Bev

  3. Well done Agripina , what an inspiring story. I am sure you will do well at St Jude's & we wish you all the very best as you strive to become a doctor. Bev

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