Every year, in October, the entirety of the school gathers together to celebrate St Jude鈥檚 Day. It鈥檚 a chance for students, teachers and special guests to gather as a community and celebrate the school鈥檚 culture, with the focus being on giving and giving thanks.2,000 attendees are packed into the Sisia Primary Campus assembly hall, surrounded by make-shift pavilions holding the large student body and some of their families.
In the middle of the service of thanks, a snaking line of students ceremonially march through the centre of the assembly hall to the front stage carrying baskets filled with small toys, food, cleaning materials and much more. Small gifts, donated by students, their families and staff to go to those in even greater need.
One of the people watching in the crowd is Irene, a former student and current Community Service Year intern in the Visitor team.
鈥淕iving is about being there for someone,鈥� she says. 鈥淲ithout sponsors and donors, we wouldn鈥檛 be here 鈥� it鈥檚 all because of their giving.鈥�
The act of giving is the cornerstone of St Jude鈥檚 culture and an important principle in creating strong moral leaders for the Tanzania of tomorrow.
鈥淭he culture at this school starts with giving to others,鈥� says Reginald Mongi, who is the Deputy Welfare Coordinator. 鈥淭his is what we learn.鈥�
Another audience member is Parent鈥檚 Committee Representative, Elizabeth. Her daughter, Nice, is in Form 1 and she has been at St Jude鈥檚 since 2012. Nice has two older brothers and two younger sisters.
鈥淪t Jude鈥檚 has helped me by educating my child,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his means I am able to use the money I鈥檝e saved to help my other children go to school.鈥�
Last Saturday, the gifts were presented in person by three groups of students, to nine orphanages in the Arusha region.
One of the orphanages supports babies who are two years old and younger. St Jude鈥檚 students, including Standard 7 girl Sal, delivered three baskets filled with gifts to the babies, and spent time playing with them and their new toys.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important not to be selfish,鈥� says Sal. 鈥淚f you have something, you should share it with others.鈥漁ne of the teacher鈥檚 supervising the day, Juliette, sees this as an important tradition and an opportunity for the students to gain perspective.
鈥淭hey shouldn鈥檛 think that they鈥檙e from the only disadvantaged families,鈥� says Juliette, who teaches English. 鈥淭here are so many others out there also in need, they should be thankful.鈥�
Throughout the day, Juliette鈥檚 group of students visited three different orphanages. The last of these was so excited to see the St Jude鈥檚 students that they formed a guard of honour at the gates, as the St Jude鈥檚 yellow school bus entered.
As the students exit the bus, they hand out a few teddy bears and second hand picture books.
Once all the gifts have been received, the St Jude鈥檚 students beckon the children to pose for a photo together to remember the day. The children hold up their gifts, vying for front position.
鈥淒ays like this are important,鈥� says Elineema, a Kiswahili teacher who is supervising alongside Juliette. 鈥淲e need to always instill in our hearts the act of giving.鈥�
Sponsor a St Jude鈥檚 students鈥� academic scholarship to help create a leader of tomorrow.
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