mini传媒

It is 6.30am and eager parents and excited new students are lined up outside mini传媒 gate, having been called for, what they thought was their children鈥檚 first day of school. Little do they know, it鈥檚 Uniform Day.

This day is a special day for St Jude鈥檚. It welcomes a new wave of the selected Standard 1 and 2 students to the school; preparing them to embark on their most significant educational journey with dreams of becoming the future leaders of tomorrow.

Uniform Day is an annual celebration and a cheerful day for the new students, parents and staff at St Jude鈥檚. On this day, students get their uniform fitted, shoe size measured and finally emerge in their new uniforms, ready to receive the gift of education provided by St Jude鈥檚.

Among the excited students who couldn鈥檛 wait for the day to start was Joshua. With his bubbly and jolly personality and looking extremely smart in his new uniform, he couldn鈥檛 stop smiling and admiring his new clothes.

鈥淚鈥檓 so happy to be getting my new uniform, and now I鈥檓 ready to start school,鈥� Joshua jovially said.

He added, 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know about St Jude鈥檚 until my mother brought me here for Selection Day. Once I saw the school, it became my dream school, and I was praying to be selected so that I can join in.鈥�

Describing the uniform, Joshua said, 鈥淭he uniform is very nice, I love it. I鈥檓 wearing dark blue trousers, dark blue socks, black shoes, a blue shirt and a dark blue sweater. Also, my shirt has a yellow stripe on its collar, which means I鈥檒l be in Yellow House.鈥�

Joshua was amid over 1,000 students who came for registrations on Selection Day for Standard 1 and 2 late last year. Coming from an underprivileged background, Joshua was studying in a government school, scoring in the top of his class鈥� a class that had more than 100 students.

Outside the gate, parents including Lina, Joshua鈥檚 mother, was shocked and filled with tears of joy after seeing her son, coming out of the gate looking fresh in his new uniform.

Uniform Day is kept a surprise to parents whose children have qualified to join St Jude鈥檚 and get to find out about the transformation on the day that it's happening.

鈥淭oday is the happiest day of my life. I鈥檓 so proud of Joshua, and I know he鈥檒l do us proud,鈥� said Lina.

She added, 鈥淚 have nothing to say but a big thank you to St Jude鈥檚 for selecting my son and to everything that the school is doing to help poor families, like mine. We are forever grateful.鈥�

Uniform Day is not just a joyous day for the new students and parents; it is also a unique, emotional and an unforgettable day for St Jude鈥檚 staff.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe I still get emotional and cry on this day. This is my tenth uniform day, but each one has a special place in my heart,鈥� Theopista, Community Relations Assistant, said with tears welling in her eyes.

She further explained, 鈥淒oing house checks paints you a picture of where these students are coming from. So, when you see these students selected to join St Jude鈥檚, you see so much hope in the eyes of these families, knowing that their children will be receiving the gift of education.鈥�

For some staff, this was their first experience of Uniform Day.

鈥淭his was my first Uniform Day. I feel like a proud sister watching the young students come in and transform into their new uniforms. I tried to remember how my first day of school was, but I cannot relate,鈥� Rehema, a Supporter Relations Officer joyfully said.

鈥淭hese students鈥� lives were changing forever right before my eyes. It was a thrilling moment, especially when I saw some of the students whose homes I had visited during house checks. They made it! It was an honour to watch,鈥� she added.

Uniform Day marks the start of a promising future for these students. You can help support them reach their full potential by sponsoring their academic scholarship. With your help, there is a brighter future!

(Some quotes used in this article have been translated from Kiswahili to English)