"Tea break is at 10:30 am. We are serving porridge today," explains Rehema as she sets a table in the primary school dining hall.
Rehema, the Head Cleaner at St Jude鈥檚, is always cheerful and kind to students and staff.
鈥淚 joined St Jude鈥檚 in 2019. Before I was promoted to lead the cleaning staff, I helped to clean school offices and other areas of the school,鈥� says Rehema.
鈥淢y responsibilities as the head cleaner are to supervise and ensure cleaning procedures are followed, cleaning staff complete their assigned tasks, and the school environment is clean and safe, from classrooms, toilets, and kitchens to all offices,鈥� she explains.
Rehema believes her love for children is the biggest motivation in her work at St Jude鈥檚.
"I like to cook and I have always wanted to work with young students. Getting the job at St Jude's was a dream come true for me. Seeing these students every day gives me the drive to continue to do my very best for them. And when they say, 鈥楾hank you, Ms Rehema,鈥� I feel accomplished because I know that my work has a positive impact on them," says Rehema.
All students at the school receive hot, nutritious and healthy meals with a menu featuring produce part-sourced from the school鈥檚 farm. The school serves over 29,000 meals per week!
Rehema, who ensures all students get healthy meals and safe water daily, understands how St Jude's is helping to change lives, including her own. "Through St Jude's, I've been able to send my children to school, build a house, and run my day-to-day affairs," she shares.
'I would like to thank Gemma for all she is doing for bright, poor Tanzanian students, giving them hope for a brighter future, and also for employing Tanzanians like myself, empowering and giving us an opportunity to take care of our families," says Rehema.
Staff like Ms Rehema are invaluable. Her work at St Jude鈥檚 ensures that our students can learn in a clean environment and enjoy nutritious, daily meals. However, it鈥檚 not just the students who benefit鈥� Staff are empowered to take on greater responsibilities at work and transition into leadership roles while supporting their families and improving their lives with their St Jude鈥檚 salary.
Thanks to your support, St Jude鈥檚 can employ staff like Rehema to ensure the school environment is clean and healthy. Donate today!
It is wonderful to have news of the School itself and the people involved; it is really great to be in touch!
Yesterday whilst shopping Colin and I meet a tiny tot who started to chat. Her Mother was nearby and we had a lovely time. The little one was wearing a dress with elephants on it and I told her that we used to live in a country when we often saw elephants - she was most impressed.
We will send a small donation and sincerely hope that you will keep in touch. It is a long time since Colin and I met in Kenya and we have such wonderful memories.
God bless,
Iren茅 Douglas
What a blessing Ms Rehema is to St. Jude鈥檚!
With wonderful staff like her taking care of our precious children in such a motherly fashion, it is no wonder the children are happy and content which is a great baseline for successful learning.
May God bless her in all that she does.