While visiting mini传媒 for our recent graduation, Australians Julie and Kevin Smith shared their experience about sponsoring new graduate Amos and Form 3 (Year 9) Student Faith.
鈥淲e started sponsoring Faith about nine years ago. We found out about St Jude鈥檚 when Julie saw a program on Australian television, Sunrise.
The same day, she said, 鈥榣ook, I鈥檝e got to find out more about this school鈥� and went out and bought the book, and we had a look at what it took to be a sponsor,鈥� Kevin explained.The Western Australian couple also started sponsoring Amos when he began at St Jude鈥檚 in Form 1.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a great experience watching them grow, we鈥檝e seen the school grow as well from those fairly humble, small beginnings. We鈥檝e thoroughly enjoyed it,鈥� Kevin said.
鈥淭his is the second time we鈥檝e visited the school. In fact, this time we鈥檝e spent lots more time with them then we did the first time, which has been really nice,鈥� Julie said, explaining that staying at the same campus has allowed them all a great opportunity to build their relationship, even with Amos鈥� parents.
As parents with two daughters of their own, it鈥檚 clear that Kevin and Julie also hold their student sponsorship relationships very close to their hearts.
鈥淚 think we get a lot more back than what we give. It鈥檚 really lovely to see (Faith and Amos) grow and to know that you鈥檙e helping someone that may not have been able to do this. They don鈥檛 have the opportunities here, and we come from such easy backgrounds so to help someone, make it easier for them, is very satisfying,鈥� Julie said.
鈥淲e have their pictures alongside our girls鈥� pictures on the kitchen counter - they鈥檙e just part of our family. One big, happy family,鈥� Julie said.
鈥淲hen we first started sponsoring, our girls were much younger, they were still teenagers themselves,鈥� Kevin said, adding that their daughters would excitedly open and read the letters from Faith and Amos.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really benefitted our children, because they have a very easy life,鈥� Julie said, laughing.
鈥淎lthough they don鈥檛 correspond directly with these two, they certainly know about all the letters that I get. I quite often read the lovely letters we get from the children, and Faith鈥檚 quite good with her drawings as well.
"We also get letters from the girls in the boarding house, so our girls get to see all of that. Of course, we鈥檝e told them everything about the school and how wonderful it is.
"They鈥檙e quite aware now how lucky they are, with the life that they鈥檝e had. We would love to bring them and shown them, but they鈥檙e both adults now and they have jobs, but hopefully one day we鈥檒l be able to bring them.鈥�
It鈥檚 clear, as the four of them sit comfortably in conversation on a sunny Tanzanian afternoon, that the Smith鈥檚 visit has been mutually beneficial.
鈥淏eing sponsored by Julie and Kevin is such an amazing opportunity, so I really appreciate that. I am so happy I will be together with my sponsors and my parents for this very special day (graduation). I think it鈥檚 going to be amazing, it will be wonderful,鈥� Amos said with a grin.
鈥淚n Tanzania, the education system is very different and it is very hard. In public schools, the situation there is very hard. There is a lack of resources, such as books and teachers, but here at St Jude鈥檚 the situation is a little bit different.
"For example, in studies, we have enough books so you can study very easily, and the school also has got a very big library where there are many different kinds of books.
"The school also has other resources such as computers where you can go and research different information, so at St Jude鈥檚 the education system is very improved compared to government schools. I am very happy to be in such an institution that cares about education.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 so interesting to be sponsored 鈥� they have been sponsoring me since I was at prep and Grade 1, they give me challenges and I鈥檓 proud to be at St Jude鈥檚. It鈥檚 really fun,鈥� Faith added, a shy smile spreading across her lips, as her eyes flick over to Julie and Kevin.
Later that night, during a student-held variety concert, Kevin and Julie watched Amos demonstrate one of his passions 鈥� dance.
鈥淚 like dancing, I like to do artworks, I mean drawing cartoons, playing soccer and singing,鈥� he said.
Julie said she was pleased the couple could mate it to Tanzania to witness Amos graduate from Form 6.
鈥淲e鈥檙e so happy to be here for graduation and to see (the Form 6鈥檚) come to the completion of their secondary schooling," she said.
"It鈥檚 also wonderful to know that they鈥檙e going to continue on and that we can hopefully continue to support them to fulfilling their dreams - Amos has some wonderful dreams and some great plans to get to those dreams, and they鈥檙e all very positive and happy about what they鈥檙e doing."
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