The moment you step outside a St Jude鈥檚 school bus and into the grounds of Sisia primary campus, chances are, Irene and Wens will be among the first people to greet you with a 鈥榢aribu sana鈥� (you鈥檙e very welcome) and broad smiles.
Irene and Wens鈥檚 confidence and attention to detail suggest they鈥檝e spent years in training as Tanzanian tourism professionals, to prepare them for important roles in St Jude鈥檚 Visitor team.
Indeed, it鈥檚 taken 13 years of fieldwork for the dynamic duo to develop their thorough knowledge about mini传媒 鈥� first, as our students, and now, as 2017 graduates and participants in Beyond St Jude鈥檚 Community Service Year program!
The Community Service Year offers graduates an internship opportunity to teach in under-resourced government schools or work in various departments at St Jude鈥檚, to gain work experience, increase confidence and help give back to their local community.
As interns in the School鈥檚 Visitor team, Irene and Wens help to prepare itineraries, lead school tours, translate conversations during our guests鈥� visits to students鈥� homes, chaperone excursions to government schools and Maasai communities, and guide visitors through the bustling streets of Arusha.
Irene and Wens are overjoyed that they have the opportunity to represent St Jude鈥檚, but it isn鈥檛 a responsibility they take lightly.
鈥淲e are so fortunate to have the opportunity to express gratitude to sponsors, donors and visitors who come to St Jude鈥檚, every day. No matter if you have heard about the School before or not, you are helping just by being here. You become a part of the school family,鈥� Wens said.
鈥淲e had the chance to apply for an internship in a government school, but I really wanted to do something within St Jude鈥檚 as a way to show thanks.鈥�
鈥淛ust to know that the people who sponsored us for more than 10 years 鈥� read our letters and saw our photos 鈥� that our stories were enough to inspire them to sponsor鈥� I need to find a way to say 鈥榯hank you鈥� for that,鈥� Irene added.
鈥淔or all Beyond St Jude鈥檚 interns, whether you are teaching in a government school or doing a Community Service Year inside St Jude鈥檚, it feels good knowing that even if we can鈥檛 give back to our sponsors in the same way, we are at least doing something for our society.鈥�
鈥淎nd, for our families too, they are proud to see us coming into St Jude鈥檚 office every day. It is like a flashback for them 鈥� remembering how we were as small children in 2005 and 2006 when we started Standard 1, and now as adults working here,鈥� Wens shared.
Participants in Beyond St Jude鈥檚 Community Service Year develop professional skills and experience personal growth.
Wens is hoping to study Electrical Engineering when he starts university.
鈥淚n the Visitor team, I have learnt many things which will help me with my career. I know how to be organised and how to communicate with people from many cultural backgrounds.鈥�
Irene has aspirations of becoming an international business leader.
鈥淎s a member of the Visitor team, we are already leaders. We are people鈥檚 hosts and all the information they receive about the School comes through our stories. We may not be interning in government schools, but I think this is another form of teaching.鈥�
鈥淭here is no organisation that compares to St Jude鈥檚. Coming here, you will see the full effect of a St Jude鈥檚 education. Visitors see how far their donation goes and how it can change our lives.鈥�
If you would like to meet inspiring Beyond St Jude鈥檚 interns like Irene and Wens, be sure to book a visit to St Jude鈥檚. Email us at visitor@schoolofstjude.co.tz
Replies