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One of the most enduring cultures at St Jude鈥檚 is the spirit of compassion and helping those in need. Throughout the year, students and staff support the community in various ways. 

鈥淓very other weekend, our students are out volunteering at an orphanage, cleaning the marketplace, or sharing their skills and knowledge with students from neighbouring schools,鈥� says Focus, a staff and mentor of Interact Club at the school. 

This year, St Jude鈥檚 launched another impactful initiative to support the community, particularly patients in need of blood transfusion. In March, the school introduced a bi-annual blood donation drive for eligible staff and students to voluntarily participate.

鈥淲e saw the need to step in and help local hospitals around our communities replenish their blood banks,鈥� says Irene, who helped organise a recent blood drive at St Jude鈥檚. 鈥淔rom medical emergencies and accidents, to supporting mothers during childbirths, our hospitals could always use the extra blood units,鈥� she adds.

The first round saw 81 volunteers, including students at St Jude鈥檚 Girls鈥� Secondary School and staff participate in the blood drive. The turnout was so good that it earned St Jude鈥檚 special recognition from Arusha鈥檚 largest referral hospital as the biggest blood donation drive by a single institution in its history.聽聽

鈥淚t was a pleasant surprise,鈥� says Irene excitedly. 鈥淲e only had a few weeks to organise the drive and had initially estimated the blood drive to only take a few hours. In the end, it lasted the entire day! It was wonderful to see the St Jude鈥檚 community coming together once again in support of such an impactful program,鈥� she adds.

The blood donation drive was a collaborative effort between St Jude's welfare and academic teams, with support from Arusha's biggest referral hospital. 

"We wanted to ensure that the drive was organised efficiently," says Irene. 鈥淭he hospital helped organise an information session for our students and staff ahead of the drive and the school arranged a special lunch for everyone who donated their blood,鈥� she adds.

Fatuma, one of the talented hosts of our monthly podcast, was one of the 63 students at St Jude鈥檚 Girls鈥� Secondary School who participated in the blood drive. Beyond the podcast, she is an incredible athlete aspiring to become a P.E. teacher and understands the importance of donating blood in saving lives.

鈥淚 first learned from my sister, who is a nurse, that blood can be used to help people, particularly mothers during childbirth,鈥� says Fatuma. 鈥淪o when this opportunity arrived, I immediately volunteered,鈥� she adds excitedly.

It鈥檚 also quite fitting that the record-setting blood drive happened at St Jude鈥檚 Girls鈥� Secondary School during a month dedicated to celebrating women. Soon, St Jude鈥檚 will conduct another blood drive at Smith Campus and continue supporting local hospitals with extra blood. It鈥檚 part of a new tradition at St Jude鈥檚 where students and staff unite to save lives.