Gemma Sisia

Gemma Sisia (born Gemma Rice;[1] born 3 November 1971[2]) is an Australian humanitarian. She established the School of St Jude in Tanzania in 2002,[3] which "provides free, high-quality education to over 1,800 of the poorest Tanzanian children while boarding more than 1,400 students."[4]

Gemma Sisia
Born3 November 1971 (1971-11-03) (age 51)
NationalityAustralian
Known forEstablishing the School of St Jude
Children4

Biography

Sisia was raised on a wool sheep property in Armidale, Australia.[2][5] She was the only daughter of eight children.[2] Her parents were Sue and Basil Rice.[2] As a child, she competed in show jumping.[6] Gemma attended St Vincent's College, Potts Point.[3][7] Growing up, her family heavily emphasised education.[8]

Sisia studied biochemistry, genetics, and education at Melbourne University.[8] At age 22, she moved to Uganda to work in a convent school.[8] A few months later, she met Richard Sisia, a Tanzanian safari driver, in Tanzania.[8] They later married and had four children.[8]

In January 2002, Sisia established the School of St Jude in Tanzania.[8] The school has expanded to about 1,800 students,[9] who "receive a free, high-quality education at the primary and secondary levels."[5] Since 2015 the school has also established a graduate program, Beyond St Jude's, that supports Form 6 graduates through tertiary education. Prior to accessing tertiary education, Beyond St Jude's participants undertake a year of community service, usually in the form of volunteer teaching in local government schools.[10]

References
  1. Australia, Pan Macmillan. "Gemma Sisia - Pan Macmillan Australia". www.panmacmillan.com.au. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  2. "Q & A with Gemma Sisia | About Us | The School of St Jude". www.schoolofstjude.org. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  3. "Gemma Sisia - The School of St Jude ยป St Vincent's College". www.stvincents.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  4. "About St Jude's". Archived from the original on 27 August 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  5. "Gemma Sisia ICMI | ICMI Speakers Bureau". www.icmi.com.au. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  6. "Australian Story - Interview with Gemma Sisia". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  7. "Daily Telegraph".
  8. "'We call this heaven': Gemma Sisia's Tanzanian story". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  9. "Interview with Gemma Sisia of 'St Jude's'". Read Me. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  10. "'Fresh graduates boost science teaching in Arusha'". 10 October 2018. Archived from the original on 27 August 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
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