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Aussie Volunteers Leaving a Mark in Tanzania

Announcement posted by The School of St Jude 05 Dec 2013

The School of St Jude in Tanzania celebrates the hard work of its 20 Australian volunteers on International Volunteer Day, as they continue to fight poverty through education. 

The day held on December 5th, established by the United Nations, promotes the efforts of not-for-profit organisations and NGOs from across the world.

St Jude’s was founded by Australian Gemma Sisia in 2002 and provides a free, high-quality education to more than 1,650 of the poorest and brightest children in Arusha. The school started off with one volunteer teacher and three students and has grown to include a team of 31 skilled volunteers and more than 400 Tanzanian employees. “Our volunteers work in all sectors of the school including admin, construction, transport, academic, IT, visitor, maintenance and donor relation sections and so are crucial to school operations as they both help sustain and grow the school,” said St Jude’s Founder, Gemma Sisia.

Over the past few years, St Jude’s has welcomed hundreds of volunteers who have built classrooms, painted walls, dug trenches and helped select new students for the next year. Many of them leave their careers behind in search of an exciting adventure abroad. “When the opportunity came to live in Africa and work at a place like St Jude’s, I couldn’t say no. Working at the school has been a brilliant experience, I’ve had the opportunity to work directly with local staff and although the work culture is very different, it provides you with a wealth of experience that you couldn’t get anywhere else,” said Melbournian James Happell, St Jude’s Volunteer IT Manager.

International volunteers quickly become immersed in Tanzanian life and enjoy African food, dancing, drumming and its vibrant social scene. “I love living in the community where the environment is so colourful and the people are friendly,” said Felicity Wales, Volunteer Systems and Documentations Manager. Some live away from home for up to three years so they can support the school. It is a big sacrifice but they find it rewarding. “I miss my family and friends but I find you develop close bonds with the staff and volunteers you work with and they become like a family,” said Clare Nash, Visitor Coordinator.

Next year, the school will welcome more volunteers into the fold as others move on. The school is focused on building capacity and providing professional development for its Tanzanian workforce, and welcomes volunteers who can contribute to this goal.