Inspiring women:
 Gemma Sisia – Founder, The School of St Jude in Tanzania
“I simply love the first day of school – seeing all the new children and staff nervously starting their first day of school. Nothing beats that moment.”
The school in Tanzania that Gemma Sisia founded in 2002 now teaches over 1,300 children a year. From a wool sheep property in northern NSW to fostering education in Africa, Gemma’s story is one of hard work, philanthropy and faith.
It started with a brave journey to Africa. Gemma was only 22 at the time, but she left with the blessing of her parents.
As the only daughter with seven brothers, Gemma never had a conventional upbringing. Being an only daughter with seven older brothers, Gemma spent her early years on a fine wool sheep property just outside Guyra in northern NSW.
Her academic credentials – including a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours and a Graduate Diploma in Education – gave her a strong footing in a diverse career trajectory.
With the passion and zeal inherited from her ancestor, Edmund Rice (founder of the Christian Brothers movement), Gemma set off to Africa to teach mathematics, science and sewing to girls in Kalungu, a rural village near Masaka, a township in the middle of Uganda in East Africa.
On return to Australia, Gemma could not easily leave her three years overseas behind. This experience has lead to her passionate belief that accessible, high quality education should be the right of all children in the world.
After her father-in-law gave her a small plot of land in Arusha, Tanzania, she set out to realise her dream. In 2002 The School of St Jude opened with only a handful of sponsored children.
 Gemma’s passion for the school is unbounded by either geography or personal drive.
“I love overcoming hard challenges,” she notes, “especially if this helps children.”
And she’s the first to draw the connection between her work and her upbringing. “I believe that watching my parents facing the challenge every day to give each of their eight children a good private education has inspired me to fight for Tanzanian children to also have the opportunity of a good education.”
With hard work and determination, the school has now expanded to over 1,300 children (on three campuses), all of whom are given a free education through sponsorship from individuals, families, clubs and schools from around Australia and abroad.
Whilst the school’s success is evident – in 2009 St Jude’s was ranked 21 out of over 15,000 in Tanzania – it’s been a measurable challenge for Gemma.
“I am most proud of simply surviving the challenges of having to raise more money every year in order to employ more local staff and enrol more students.”
“Personally I am extremely proud of my husband and three children, who also keep me running! [That said], balancing family and work life is also a constant challenge.”
Gemma has drawn inspiration from those around her, many of whom have had it much harder.
“Ever since I opened the school, a wonderful Tanzanian woman has been a guiding light for me. Despite being the birth mother of nine children – she was still able to establish health clinics around this area. An amazing achievement.”
“For the past seven years I have asked for advice many times from the bank manager where our school account has been held. She is not only a mother of 12 children, but a wonderful bank manager for over 20 years. Even though she has since retired, she still supports me and the school a great deal. When things get tough I think, my goodness, if they can survive then I can!”
Astutely, Gemma has steered through the webs of media and fundraising to maintain the school’s high standards and growth rate.
“I only come back to Australia to raise money every year so we can take in another batch of children and local employees. I don’t mind the media because if it helps me to educate another child, then it is all worth it.”
In 2007 Pan MacMillan published her autobiography, St Jude’s, which stayed on the Best Sellers List for over two months.
Gemma’s story has been featured twice on the ABC TV’s ‘Australian Story’. In 2007 Gemma was honoured with an Order of Australia medal for her achievements.
Whilst travel and profile raising gnaw away at Gemma’s time, her focus is always on the school itself.
 “I am actually a bit of a hermit and so I rarely get outside the school gates. I simply love the first day of school – seeing all the new children and staff nervously starting their first day of school. Nothing beats that moment.”
As a Christian, Gemma’s faith has played a central role in her work.
“I believe that God puts people and situations in front of you for your own benefit. Every time a difficult situation is encountered, eventually I look back at it and realise that even though it was very hard to deal with at the time, that it was actually worth it as the experience made me either a better person or the school a better place.”
From this broad wisdom comes advice that she imparts to others struggling to reach their full potential.
“Keep on going, minute by minute if you have to.”
Invoking a Biblical fable involving King Solomon, Gemma reminds us that no matter what comes our way – success or failure – “this too shall pass”.
Gemma Sisia will be speaking at the 2010 Australian Regional Women Leaders Convention in Melbourne.
The Fundraiser Dinner at the Convention will be run in support of the School of St. Jude. The Dinner will include a silent auction of artwork produced by students and the local community. More
The School of St Jude is a non-profit organisation that enjoys continuing success only because of the dedicated and generous supporters and the hard working team on the ground. Monetary contributions to St Jude’s are tax deductible in Australia, UK and the US.
For more information visit www.schoolofstjude.co.tz or email Gemma directly on schoolofstjude@habari.co.tz.
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