Gemma Sisia
Born3 November 1971 (1971-11-03) (age 52)
NationalityAustralian
Known forEstablishing the School of St Jude
Children4

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]

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. 1 2 3 4 "Q & A with Gemma Sisia | About Us | The School of St Jude". www.schoolofstjude.org. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Gemma Sisia - The School of St Jude » 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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "'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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