The School of St. Jude is a charity-funded institution in Arusha, Tanzania, that provides a free, high-quality education to 1,800 of the region’s brightest students from impoverished backgrounds. Founded in 2002 by Australian humanitarian Gemma Sisia with just three students and one volunteer teacher, the school has grown into a major educational hub operating across three campuses. Its core mission is to “fight poverty through education,” a vision supported by international donors and sponsors. The school’s holistic scholarship model covers far more than tuition; it includes everything a child needs to succeed, such as boarding, uniforms, transportation, health checks, and nutritious meals, ensuring that financial barriers do not impede a student’s potential.

Beyond its primary and secondary programs, St. Jude’s has a significant long-term impact through its “Beyond St. Jude’s” program. This initiative supports graduates as they transition into higher education and requires them to complete a “Community Service Year,” during which they volunteer as teachers in under-resourced government schools. This ripple effect has reached over 112,000 local students, helping to improve the broader Tanzanian education system. With 97% of its graduates accessing tertiary education, the school is successfully cultivating a new generation of Tanzanian doctors, engineers, and entrepreneurs who are equipped to become moral and intellectual leaders in their communities.