http://blog.ptpi.org/2009/09/29/the-school-of-st-jude-in-tanzania/ The PTPI Blog aims to provide a place to share our members' stories. They inspire us and they will inspire others. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:39:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://blog.ptpi.org/2009/09/29/the-school-of-st-jude-in-tanzania/comment-page-1/#comment-957 Ali McKay Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:32:25 +0000 http://blog.ptpi.org/?p=251#comment-957 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. 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.

]]> http://blog.ptpi.org/2009/09/29/the-school-of-st-jude-in-tanzania/comment-page-1/#comment-522 Cherie Nichols Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:39:26 +0000 http://blog.ptpi.org/?p=251#comment-522 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 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.

]]> http://blog.ptpi.org/2009/09/29/the-school-of-st-jude-in-tanzania/comment-page-1/#comment-521 Karen Melnick Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:31:25 +0000 http://blog.ptpi.org/?p=251#comment-521 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 :) 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

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