Outside the gates of St Jude鈥檚 stands a crowd of people.Today is Selection Day for Standard 7 students who are vying to enter St Jude鈥檚 in Form 1, the start of secondary school.
When St Jude鈥檚 was just beginning, there was no gate. On Selection Day, students would breeze onto the school grounds, milling around chatting and using the swings on the playground.
Today it鈥檚 a different story. Inside the gates, looking out, is Deputy Director, Angela.
鈥淚t used to be that when we invited students to sit the exam, we would ask them to bring two friends, because the hardest thing was getting the word out there to the right areas to build up the number of students we had,鈥� she says.
Those days are long gone, as the reputation of St Jude鈥檚 has grown along with the knowledge that this is a unique chance to secure a free, quality education.
With the opening of St Jude鈥檚 Girls Secondary School in January, demand is even higher.
This year, just over 1,300 girls and boys were invited and ultimately, there will only be space for around 80 new additions joining the current St Jude鈥檚 students moving up to secondary school 鈥� 20 new boys and 60 new girls.
For the first time ever, St Jude鈥檚 has extended the invitation to all seven districts in Arusha, in what is a rigorous application process. There鈥檚 only 25 desks and chairs in the Form 1 classrooms, but they could be filled many times over if enthusiasm was the only criteria.
The waiting teenagers are standing side-by-side, 20 wide, and snaking all the way back down the dirt road outside St Jude鈥檚.
They begin filing in, former St Jude鈥檚 primary students on the left, and high-performing students from government schools in the Arusha region on the right.
Standing in the middle is Acting Academic Manager, Nzinyangwa Mcharo.
鈥淭here is no favouritism,鈥� says Mr Mcharo. 鈥淭oday everyone is the same.鈥�
All of the students, including those who were enrolled at St Jude鈥檚 primary school, will sit three exams throughout the day, with the brightest passing to the next stage, the all important poverty assessment.
St Jude鈥檚 graduate, Noah is currently working with the Supporter Relations team as part of his Beyond St Jude鈥檚 Community Service Year. He can still remember his first Selection Day 13 years ago.
鈥淓veryone in Arusha wants the chance to be a St Jude鈥檚 student,鈥� says Noah. 鈥淎fter I passed I felt proud and my parents were very happy - even happier than me I think!鈥�
Noah, who is now 22-years-old, says that if he didn鈥檛 have the chance to go to St Jude鈥檚 he would be a different person. The school gave him not just an education, it also taught him the values of respect, honesty, responsibility and kindness.
Today, Noah is ushering students from the gates, towards the registration lines. In the afternoon he will be taking photos of the successful applicants for their student profiles.
A lot of the students are understandably nervous; this is a massive opportunity. Noah knows how they feel and provides a comforting presence.
鈥淚 can remember standing outside the gates,鈥� says Noah. 鈥淚 just wanted to get in there and do the exams.鈥�
Noah isn鈥檛 the only St Jude鈥檚 graduate helping out today, with other former students from the Community Service Year program also volunteering their time.
In total over 100 staff, parent representatives, and St Jude鈥檚 graduates are helping out on one of the biggest days of the year.
The students sitting the exams have been siphoned off into classrooms spread throughout three different buildings 鈥� it鈥檚 a complex logistical exercise to make sure everyone invited to the exams is treated fairly.
One frazzled boy, arrives late having travelled from Singida, over 300 kilometres away 鈥� a journey that took five hours. Despite looking weary from his trip, he is eager to start the exam as soon as he can, grateful to still have his chance at securing a place.
Not to worry though, School Founder, Gemma Sisia鈥檚 7-year-old daughter, Louisa, is at hand and offers to accompany him to a classroom.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really good to see everyone pull together,鈥� says Gemma, standing next to her daughter, as she looks across the students sitting the exam in the assembly hall. 鈥淚 wonder which ones will make it all the way through and be the Community Service Year interns giving directions or taking photos in 7 years.鈥�
With even more new students starting in January, more bright, poor students will be getting the education they deserve. Support a students鈥� academic scholarship today.
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