Tanzanian man thanks Australians who helped him get unlikely education

Godwin Silayo is a recent graduate of an Australian-founded school providing free education to Tanzania’s poorest children.

Students outside the school. Source: The School of St Jude

Peering over his laptop and flashing a radiant smile, Godwin Silayo is preparing to speak to a packed hall in Sydney.

It’s the first time he's been out of his home country - Tanzania - and the bright lights of Australia are proving to be an eye-opener.

Godwin was educated by The School of St Jude in Tanzania, supported by Australian donations. Source: The School of St Jude

“Actually it was pretty amazing to me. I firstly entered the Melbourne city and so many places have so many lights, electricity, it was amazing to me. Actually, everything here is organised, the cities are cleaned. So everything is quite organised compared to my country,” he says.

More than 1,800 students now attend the school. Source: The School of St Jude

This well-spoken 21-year-old, who stands before us at a speaking event in March at the North Sydney Community Centre, is garnering sponsor support for the school which changed his life. It’s a stark contrast to the shy boy of a decade earlier, who didn’t know a word of English.

He now finds himself half a world away thanking Australians he’d never met before, for their huge generosity.