Barbara Eshman of the Inverell, Australia Chapter wrote the other day to tell us about their chapter’s most recent humanitarian project. After a recent meeting with Gemma Sisia, founder of the School of St. Jude in Tanzania, the chapter learned of the school’s need for funds to purchase text books. At the next chapter meeting, members resolved to make a contribution of $500 to make the purchase of text books possible.
Gemma Sisia, a young woman from a sheep farm in Australia, opened the School of St. Jude in 2002. It has since grown to serve nearly 1,200 children with 130 teachers and a staff of 200. Thanks to sponsors from all over the world, more than 90% of the children receive a totally free education. Sponsors cover the costs of education as well as uniforms, supplies, transportation and meals.
PTPI’s Inverell, Australia Chapter has long had a connection with Gemma Sisia (who went to school in Inverell) and the school. They nominated Gemma Sisia for PTPI’s Make a Difference Award in 2006. She returned to Australia for PTPI’s Worldwide Conference, where she accepted the award and spoke to conference attendees.
In 2008 PTPI led a Humanitarian and Cultural Mission to Tanzania, which included a visit to the School of St. Jude. They took a tour of the school, visited classrooms and enjoyed lunch with the students. A special highlight was meeting Calvin Elias, the student PTPI has sponsored since 2006.
Calvin, the wonderful student PTPI sponsors at the School of St. Jude
Paul and Karen Melnick, delegates on PTPI's mission to Tanzania, pose with students at the School of St. Jude
Tags: Community Chapters, Humanitarian, Tanzania
Visiting the School of St. Jude and seeing the great work that Gemma has accomplished, was definitely a highlight of our PTPI experience in Tanzania! We are now the proud “half sponsors” of two students at the school. It was so exciting to be able to meet the children we would sponsor while we were at the school, and we continue to hear from them (and the school of St. Jude) on a regular basis. I think my husband shows off THEIR photos at work more than he does photos of me and OUR children. Several people at the hospital where he works have since gone on to sponsor children at the school.
The safari was my other favorite part of the program, and also traveling with people who truly cared about helping, and learning more about the country and culture of Tanzania. Next week, we are off to Morocco, on our next PTPI program
I visited Tanzania last year with PTPI. It was an experience I will never forget. Gemma is truly an amazing woman and the gift she is giving these children is truly priceless. When I returned home, I had Tanzanian shillings that I could not convert. I contacted the school to find a way to get it to them and they gave me contact information for one of their volunteers in the US traveling to the school soon for a visit. The school received my donation and I soon received a letter from the students thanking me. I still read their monthly newsletters and am touched by the progress of the students. I tell everyone that you do not gain a true cultural experience of a country until you travel with PTPI.
I was also a visitor to the School of St. Jude along with Karen and Cherie. I am a college student and am the Sponsor of Ally, a second grader at the school of St. Jude. I am so proud to be Ally’s sponsor and talk about him all the time. It is so much fun to hear from him and to see him grow and change. I was moved by my visit to St. Jude enough to contact Gemma and Kim, the Deputy Headmaster about perhaps working at the school in a year and a half when I graduate from UNC. I can’t think of a better way to spend a couple of years after I graduate.