Students at The School of St Jude have access to well-equipped Information and Communication Technology (ICT) laboratories and reliable internet connection, this means our students are aware of emerging ideas, and can look to global trends to prepare them for the future in a globalised world.
Thanks to support from TechnologyOne last year, St Jude’s purchased a new server, updated 200 computers with the latest licensing of Windows and Microsoft software, replaced 20 computers at Smith Secondary Campus and purchased a cloud-based software which filters spam.
When staff and students from Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar School visited this month, they were keen to sit in on an ICT lesson with our Standard 5 students. Ally and Chantel, two of Strathcona’s Year 11 students, were particularly impressed with the facilities students at St Jude’s have access to.
“It was amazing to see how advanced the computer labs are. These students have more than what we had in an Australian private school when we were their age. They each have their own computer to sit at during lessons and you can see the teachers here really care about the learning experience of all their students,” Ally said.
“Another great thing about St Jude’s is you can see exactly where people’s donations are going, and the skills these kids otherwise wouldn’t learn in a Tanzanian government school,” Chantel observed.
Lack of developed infrastructure and resources in Tanzania makes it challenging for government schools to efficiently and comprehensively teach subjects like ICT.
Joseph, St Jude’s Head of Information Technology, is an expert at navigating infrastructural setbacks and ensuring our thousands of students, staff and visitors have consistent access to internet, and that all our equipment is well-maintained to ensure productivity and security.
“Technology gives our students the ability to become great innovators. The ability of our students and staff to access academic resources online helps students to succeed and helps with professional development of teachers,” Joseph commented.
“Before St Jude’s students are even accepted into university, they can browse the internet to find out the skills they need for certain careers, which prepares them well for the future.”
Sara, a Standard 5 student, is still at the beginning of her St Jude’s schooling, yet knows already that understanding technology will help her reach her dream to become a doctor.
“I love learning about computers. People need technology in the world to do everything. I dream to become a doctor, so it is important to understand technology and all about the machines and computers which help people to get better if they are sick,” Sara said.
Thanks to TechnologyOne, our school is connected to the global community and we can provide a competitive, high quality education for free to some of Tanzania’s most deserving students.
Be a part of the fight against poverty by donating to St Jude’s today.
St Jude’s Earlyact (ages 5-13), Interact (ages 12-18) and Rotaract (ages 18-30) clubs flourished under the leadership of the School’s first Rotary Specialist, Sebastian. After two years of service, he’s handed over the torch and returned to Australia to complete his degree in Education.
Laura B, an engineer from Melbourne and long-serving Retractor, has arrived in Arusha with a determination to carry the flame Seb ignited!
Laura joins a team of intrepid young adults driving the Rotary wheel at St Jude’s — for the first time, most of whom are women.
Vivian, Laura C and Timara are dedicated members of the Rotaract Club of St Jude’s. Vivian joined the club at its inception in 2016 and is excited to mentor Laura B as she steps into her new role.
“Seb was the one who inspired me to join Rotaract, and now we can be the inspiration for others to join.”
“When we [the Rotaract Club of St Jude’s] first started, Tanzanians were hesitant to join and most of the board were members of the international community. Now, we have 10 Tanzanian members and three international members. The entire board is female, too,” Vivian said.
The increase in female membership numbers reflects Tanzanian regional trends. Currently, the presidents of all three Rotary clubs in Arusha are women, and joining numbers are at an all-time high!
“So many young Tanzanians are eager to understand what Rotary is. For example, Miriam, who was a Beyond St Jude’s intern last year, showed so much initiative and helped lead our youth employment project, Vijana Poa (Youth is Cool).”
Throughout the year, Laura B, alongside her fellow Retractors, will motivate St Jude’s EarlyActors and Interactors to continue their charitable work in the community. Laura will also collaborate with local Rotary clubs and lead new initiatives.
Just two days after arriving in Tanzania, Laura literally jumped straight into the mud, planting trees as part of Rotary Mission Green, a five-year initiative of District 9211 — Uganda and Tanzania.
The aim of the project is for Rotarians to plant at least one tree each. St Jude’s Retractors and Interactors slipped into their gardening boots and visited East Meru School, where they planted 40 fruit trees.
“East Meru School especially requested fruit trees so they could save money on purchasing fruit for the students. This will help them for years to come, and we hope to return to plant more!” Rotaract Vice-President, Laura C, said.
Along with Mission Green, Laura B is excited to help coordinate the upcoming interschool RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) conference at the School.
“My motto in coming to St Jude’s was to have an open heart and open mind. My passion for helping people is what keeps me going. Seeing the passion of people like Vivian, Laura C and Timara is an easy motivator too. I will learn so much from them as the year unfolds.”
The Rotary wheel is turning fast at St Jude’s and we are excited to welcome Laura B into our school community. Help us inspire EarlyActors and Interactors by donating to The School of St Jude. We look forward to sharing their exciting progress as the year unfolds!
They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but at St Jude’s, we love hosting a brilliant team of health professionals each year who come to check on students’ wellbeing.
It’s no small task to adequately assess the needs of 1,800 students. Between them, our Health Check team has decades of experience in a range of fields, including (but not limited to) paediatrics, physiotherapy, nursing, audiology, optometry, psychology, education, counselling and general practice.
Doctor Philippa (Pip), a long-time sponsor, has played a crucial role in developing the two-week Health Check program for the last nine years. Under her leadership, the team assesses students’ medical and developmental needs and uses their findings to refer students to medical professionals in Arusha for further assessment and support.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for those who come as members of the Health Check team, even though it’s hard work. We’re here really to encourage self-awareness. We also held a seminar for students who are curious about following a career path in the medical field or psychology, so it’s a win-win,” Doctor Pip said.
Doctor Philip, a general practitioner from Armidale, New South Wales, returned with the Health Check team for the second year in a row.
“I’ve been taught from an early age that a healthy mind and healthy body go hand in hand. We’re here to help maximise students’ learning potential by identifying particular health concerns which may impact upon their ability to concentrate or absorb information in class, particularly when it comes to issues with seeing and hearing,” Philip said.
“We also check on students’ psychological wellbeing. Many St Jude’s students come from backgrounds of trauma. I sponsor a student whose mother died from AIDS. She was abandoned by her father when her mother died. These kinds of traumas affect a child’s ability to learn and may manifest through physical symptoms so it’s important we look after their mental health as well.”
Chloe, an educational psychologist from Victoria and a newcomer to the Health Check team this year, engaged staff members in professional development seminars to help them identify and address mental health issues students may experience.
“In a country like Tanzania, which is doing relatively well compared to some African countries, mental health awareness is still quite limited. However, there seems a desire to learn more about it. There’s a big need for education from a grassroots level. It’s really fertile ground for training and education around how to support mental health issues and how to reduce the stigma.”
“We know that children perform better if they are well-supported and have coping strategies to deal with underlying stresses or traumas. I’ve been so impressed with the Child Protection Officers at the School and the work they’re doing. Providing services for them and building capacity is wonderful. They’re very keen, invested in and passionate about what they do at St Jude’s.”
Are you interested in spending time with our students and staff? Visit St Jude’s and join our community! Contact our Visitor team directly at visitor@schoolofstjude.co.tz for more information.
A special thanks to: Doctors Philippa, Craig, Annie, Gordon, Philip, and Sarah. Orthoptists Myra and Caroline. Psychologists Chloe and Camillia. Social worker/counsellors Dan and Janene. Nurse Louise. Audiologist Migien. Physiotherapist Jane. Associates June and Veronica.
The moment you step outside a St Jude’s school bus and into the grounds of Sisia primary campus, chances are, Irene and Wens will be among the first people to greet you with a ‘karibu sana’ (you’re very welcome) and broad smiles.
Irene and Wens’s confidence and attention to detail suggest they’ve spent years in training as Tanzanian tourism professionals, to prepare them for important roles in St Jude’s Visitor team.
Indeed, it’s taken 13 years of fieldwork for the dynamic duo to develop their thorough knowledge about The School of St Jude — first, as our students, and now, as 2017 graduates and participants in Beyond St Jude’s Community Service Year program!
The Community Service Year offers graduates an internship opportunity to teach in under-resourced government schools or work in various departments at St Jude’s, to gain work experience, increase confidence and help give back to their local community.
As interns in the School’s Visitor team, Irene and Wens help to prepare itineraries, lead school tours, translate conversations during our guests’ visits to students’ homes, chaperone excursions to government schools and Maasai communities, and guide visitors through the bustling streets of Arusha.
Irene and Wens are overjoyed that they have the opportunity to represent St Jude’s, but it isn’t a responsibility they take lightly.
“We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to express gratitude to sponsors, donors and visitors who come to St Jude’s, every day. No matter if you have heard about the School before or not, you are helping just by being here. You become a part of the school family,” Wens said.
“We had the chance to apply for an internship in a government school, but I really wanted to do something within St Jude’s as a way to show thanks.”
“Just to know that the people who sponsored us for more than 10 years — read our letters and saw our photos — that our stories were enough to inspire them to sponsor… I need to find a way to say ‘thank you’ for that,” Irene added.
“For all Beyond St Jude’s interns, whether you are teaching in a government school or doing a Community Service Year inside St Jude’s, it feels good knowing that even if we can’t give back to our sponsors in the same way, we are at least doing something for our society.”
“And, for our families too, they are proud to see us coming into St Jude’s office every day. It is like a flashback for them — remembering how we were as small children in 2005 and 2006 when we started Standard 1, and now as adults working here,” Wens shared.
Participants in Beyond St Jude’s Community Service Year develop professional skills and experience personal growth.
Wens is hoping to study Electrical Engineering when he starts university.
“In the Visitor team, I have learnt many things which will help me with my career. I know how to be organised and how to communicate with people from many cultural backgrounds.”
Irene has aspirations of becoming an international business leader.
“As a member of the Visitor team, we are already leaders. We are people’s hosts and all the information they receive about the School comes through our stories. We may not be interning in government schools, but I think this is another form of teaching.”
“There is no organisation that compares to St Jude’s. Coming here, you will see the full effect of a St Jude’s education. Visitors see how far their donation goes and how it can change our lives.”
If you would like to meet inspiring Beyond St Jude’s interns like Irene and Wens, be sure to book a visit to St Jude’s. Email us at visitor@schoolofstjude.co.tz
