June 27, 2024

Q & A with Maria

Get to know Maria and find out what it is like to visit St Jude’s

A Welcoming Smile: Maria, a St Jude’s alum, shares her experience working with the Visitors team.

At St Jude’s, we love visitors! This is why we have a dedicated Visitors team to ensure everyone who visits the school has the best experience. If you visit St Jude’s, you’ll most likely be greeted by Maria, a St Jude’s alum currently working with the team. Learn what it’s like to visit the school and see how we fight poverty through education.

What do you usually do as part of the Visitors team?

In a sentence, our work is to give our visitors a fulfilling experience of the school, the Tanzanian culture, and life in Arusha, Tanzania. We tailor each visitor’s itinerary to meet their needs and expectations throughout their time with us. This involves quite a bit of planning and coordination with other teams within the school to ensure a personalised and holistic experience.

What does a typical visit to St Jude’s include?

The school tour is always fun. St Jude’s has a rich history, being over 20 years old, so there is a lot to explore! Other activities may include sitting in on a class with students, such as a music or art class, attending a school assembly, cooking lessons, playing sports with the students during an extracurricular activity, and much more.

Longer itineraries may include a visit to the Maasai Boma, which is a rich cultural experience, a coffee tour, and a visit to a student’s home.

What is a favourite activity for visitors at St Jude’s?

Home visits are usually the highlight for most visitors. This is when a visitor can experience the life of our students by visiting one of their families. It really helps visitors connect with our mission of fighting poverty through education.

Other favourite activities include tours of our on-campus art gallery and classroom sessions.

How does it feel coming back to St Jude’s?

It feels great to be back! I graduated from St Jude’s in 2016, and it’s inspiring to see how far we’ve come. Showing visitors around the classes and places where I used to study brings back a lot of memories and gratitude.

As an alum, some students look up to me for inspiration, so I always strive to be a good example.

How can people visit St Jude’s?

Just send us an email! We are happy to help plan your itinerary to ensure you have the best experience with us. We accept overnight, day, and even drop-in visitors. So, even if you are just passing through Arusha and only have a few hours to spare, we’d be happy to show you around!

Our Visitors team is happy to plan your next visit to St Jude’s. Book your trip today.

Replies

Related Stories