Now, St Jude’s graduates are enrolled in universities across Tanzania and East Africa and 24 scholars have just graduated from their tertiary course supported by Beyond St Jude’s. They are one step closer to becoming the next generation of Tanzanian leaders.
Gemma gave a unique guided walk around the school (a bit like roaming Brian in the post match of Seven footy) using her mobile and the often maligned Zoom app where we visited classrooms full of energetic students, met teaching and administration staff and experienced a very vibrant setting.
The school's annual running costs are around $6m, and as all the students are on scholarships, the school survives on donations (90% of which come from Australians). Other expenses include a fleets of 26 buses to transport the students and staff and the provision of around 700 hot lunch meals each day.
Gemma's presentation was inspiring and it is easy to appreciate how in 2007 Gemma’s achievements were honoured by an Order of Australia medal. Her story has been featured twice in the ABC TV documentary program Australian Story, in 2005 and a follow-up in 2009. In 2012, Gemma was named one of The Australian Financial Review and Westpac’s 100 Women of Influence, nominated in the Global category and was also a finalist in New South Wales for Australian of the Year. In 2000 and 2019, Gemma was awarded a Sapphire Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International.
It was a pleasure to have experienced just a short time with Gemma and The School of St Jude.