When Laura Brown and Gemma Sisia were growing up as farmers鈥� daughters in country New South Wales, it鈥檚 unlikely either could have predicted where their lives would lead.
Both women were motivated by a sense of intrigue and adventure to seek challenges and opportunities.
鈥淔or me, it was big dreams and curiosity! You just have to turn up. I wouldn鈥檛 be able to live with myself if I didn鈥檛 try,鈥� Laura said.听
Laura Brown is an international publishing icon, fashioning the runway as InStyle Magazine鈥檚 Editor in Chief.
A self-confessed 鈥榗hallenge junkie鈥�, Gemma couldn鈥檛 agree more with her homeland counterpart.
鈥淵ou just have to keep going, no matter what; work towards your dream and never let it go.鈥�
Gemma Sisia, Founder of mini传媒, provides a free, quality education to 1,800 of Tanzania鈥檚 brightest and most disadvantaged children.
Both women are fiercely passionate about their work, securing their status as Aussie powerhouses making a global impact.
This month, they鈥檝e joined forces to fight poverty through education.听
Laura literally swept our students off their feet when she visited St Jude鈥檚 in late July 2017, and couldn鈥檛 resist signing up to sponsor an academic scholarship for two of Tanzania鈥檚 youngest leaders.
鈥淲e can thank Liam Bartlett from 60 Minutes Australia for introducing me to Gemma!鈥� Laura said.
鈥淚 told him I was going to Tanzania on vacation and he told me about her and the School. It was fate.鈥�
鈥淲hat most impressed me about St Jude鈥檚 is how incredible the mission is and how effective the team are at achieving it.鈥�
鈥淚 also love the Australian animals on the school鈥檚 walls, obviously.鈥澛�
Laura now supports the education of two girls at St Jude鈥檚; Alice in Standard 3 (Grade 3) at Sisia primary, and Hadija in Form 1 (Grade 8) at Smith secondary campus.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so wonderful to have the support of a successful international leader like Laura. She shows our female students they can achieve anything they set their mind and heart to,鈥� Gemma insisted.
In July, Laura鈥檚 warm and engaging presence lit up the playground and entertained swathes of excited St Jude鈥檚 students!
鈥淚 loved meeting two spunky young boys in Grade 3 named Saad and Yusuph.听 They were so funny and told me not to give away any answers [in class]!鈥澛�
鈥淚 just couldn鈥檛 not sponsor. You have to help where you can, and this is so immediate and tangible. I love being able to track how a student grows. I鈥檓 thrilled to be able to contribute anything at all.鈥�
Her advice to Alice and Hadija?
鈥淎bsorb everything you can, learn everything you can, meet everyone you can.鈥澛�
鈥淚 feel passionately about supporting the education of children in Tanzania, because they should have the same opportunities as anyone. Education should be an equal playing field, globally and economically,鈥� Laura said.
True that, Laura. On鈥檡a mate.
Laura鈥檚 support means two of Tanzania鈥檚 most disadvantaged young leaders have opportunities to succeed at their fingertips. Show your support by聽becoming a sponsor.听
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