Rising nearly 6000km above sea level, Mount Kilimanjaro in northeastern Tanzania is the world’s tallest freestanding mountain. Around 100km from the dormant volcano is an institution just as impressive, The School of St Jude. 

Why is St Jude’s significant? Approximately 75 per cent of Tanzanians live well below the poverty line, surviving on less than $4.20 per day. Only 30 per cent of appropriate-age children are enrolled in secondary school, and 8 per cent in tertiary education. In 2002, Armidale-born humanitarian Gemma Sisia established St Jude’s to help alleviate the country’s poverty by making quality education accessible for more children.

The school, which opened with one volunteer teacher and just three students, now has three campuses located in Arusha, Tanzania, and 1800 students – all of whom are educated, clothed, housed and fed for free. Over the years, St Jude’s has dramatically changed the lives of not just its students, but also their families and the local community, through education and employment opportunities. With its emphasis on academic achievement, an impressive 97 per cent of St Jude’s secondary graduates go on to access higher education. 

However, despite its success and positive impact, the school relies entirely on the generosity of its supporters.

When Peter Campbell, Founder and Executive Chairman of Campbell Property Group (CPG), happened upon Gemma’s amazing work in Tanzania, he immediately wanted to be involved. ‘I first learned about the school when it was featured on an episode of ABC’s Australian Story,’ he says. ‘I admired what Gemma set out to do for young people with potential from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.’ 

In 2010, Peter took on the challenge of climbing Mt Kilimanjaro to raise much-needed funds for St Jude’s – a significant feat which he describes as one of the most rewarding things he’s ever done. More than a decade later, he put a call-out across the CPG businesses (which include Clarendon Homes, Domaine Homes, Lindsay Bennelong and CPG Estates) to bring together a team for another fundraising mountain-climb.

CPG’s Laurie Cosentino, General Manager of Domaine Homes, knew right away he wanted to be part of the charity climb. ‘It was more than just philanthropy; purpose is part of our business model. There was something about the way Peter explained how it changed him, not just physically but emotionally. That we could be part of changing the course of someone’s entire life,’ he says. 

From the more than 40 staff members who put forward interest, another who ended up making the climb was Michael Muller, Construction Area Manager at Clarendon Homes. Part of his motivation was closer to home. ‘My wife is involved in education and once I started to research Gemma and St Jude’s it was a no-brainer. It was a powerful reminder that education really can break the cycle of poverty for generations to come.’

For both, and the rest of the group, the following six months were a combination of ensuring their bodies and their minds were able to handle the extremes of the climb.

In mid-2026, the team flew into Tanzania and after four incredible days at St Jude’s, they set off to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro. The seven-day trek was challenging, just as they knew it would be. During the journey, they camped every night, washed themselves from stainless bowls, endured sleepless nights with the wind howling as they moved closer to base camp. The impact of such activity in high-altitude conditions had enormous effects on their body, and no amount of training could prepare them for the fear beyond every step. They all pushed on with determination.

Laurie recalls: ‘As we reached base camp the anticipation was building for the final hike to the summit.’ At 11pm, they began the trek through the darkness, knowing they would walk through the night to reach the summit for sunrise. 

Michael says the climb itself was brutal. ‘We hiked through the darkness, step after step, following the person in front, until we finally reached Gilman’s Point as the sun began to rise over Africa. It was incredible.’

They then hiked around the crater for another two hours before finally standing at Uhuru Peak — the highest point in Africa.

Challenging more than the physical

‘Standing on the highest point in Africa is a moment I’ll never forget,’ Michael says. ‘Not just because of where we were, but because of what it took to get there. It was a reminder of what determination, resilience and teamwork can achieve.’

Michael and Laurie both commented that their guides and porters were amazing throughout the entire journey, especially on summit night. ‘They walked beside us through the soft gravel. They ran ahead to encourage anyone who was struggling. Their words became more than encouragement; they became something we believed. Because that night walk to the summit for sunrise was brutal and gruelling,’ Michael says. ‘I personally would have to say the last hour before we reached our first point I was done, exhausted physically and emotionally, battling altitude, lacking oxygen.’

Laurie adds, ‘There were moments when your body was telling you to stop. Moments when you wondered how much further you could go.’

Breaking the poverty cycle

After returning, the reflection for both was profound. Michael and Laurie experienced every emotion possible, but there’s something else that stayed. While the climb lasted seven days, for the students at St Jude’s, their climb is much longer and their mountain is poverty. Their mountain is limited opportunity. And their path towards the summit is education.

‘What St Jude’s does is give students the tools, the support and the belief to keep climbing,’ Michael says. 

And perhaps that’s why the two experiences — St Jude’s and Kilimanjaro — are so connected. They are both about challenge, achievement, teamwork and pushing past the barriers. 

‘By Tanzanian standards, a family home with more than one room and electricity is considered wealthy. If a clever young person doesn’t have basic things like food and clothing, how can access to a life-changing level of education be possible?’ Laurie says. ‘The reality is I could have raised money for the charity from here. I didn't have to do the climb. The climb was something I really wanted to do because I knew that it was an experience that I would never probably put on myself.’

Michael adds: ‘It has reminded me of the incredible things people can achieve when they are given support and encouragement. And it has reminded me that sometimes, the greatest thing you can give someone isn’t something you can put in their hands. I came home with a deeper appreciation for the people around me and how important it is to have purpose.’

The St Jude’s impact

• St Jude’s educates 1800 of the brightest and most deserving Tanzanian students across primary and secondary levels.
• 100% of their students and scholars are on donor-funded scholarships.
• More than 1500 alumni are making significant contributions in fields such as health, science, agriculture and education.
• More than 500 of St Jude’s graduates are supported with their tertiary studies.
• Australians contribute more than 90% of St Jude’s revenue.
• The CPG team raised an impressive $90,959 — generously matched by Peter Campbell with a further $100,000.
• To learn more about St Jude’s or see how you can help go to: The School of St Jude.