Meet Jess: Head of Fundraising and Impact

Top level me: 

Hi everyone, my name is Jess and I’m the Head of Fundraising and Impact at School for Life. I am the eldest of 2 and grew up on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. My background is French and Italian – and both my parents are pastry chefs. In my spare time you’ll find me at the beach, bushwalking, finding the best croissants, practicing yoga, reading, patting dogs, cooking and travelling. I love to travel and have been to 26 different countries. And in December this year I’m getting married!

I am passionate about giving back and doing what I can to support others.  

Jess and her fiancé Nick.

Bit of a deeper dive:

My love of travel developed during my gap year where I spent 2 months teaching English on the beautiful island of Zanzibar, just off the coast of Tanzania. 

This was my first trip to Africa, and I’d never felt so out of my comfort zone, yet I loved every minute of it. The kindness of the local people and the stunning coastline made it an unforgettable experience. I then went on to complete a course in tourism and tour guiding, which led to me attending a Youth Conference in China.

Following this I took another gap year and spent 2 months teaching English in Cambodia before spending 2 months travelling throughout Southeast Asia. During my solo travels I learnt how resilient I could be - especially in the face of the unexpected/unplanned.

What transpired from my love of travel was the desire to make a difference and give back.

Jess with students in Cambodia

Jess teaching in Zanzibar

I enrolled in a Bachelor of International Development, which unpacked the many layers of development and aid. During my time at uni, I volunteered at Opportunity International an organisation providing micro-finance loans to women and UNICEF, the United Nations organisation for children. Volunteering was an incredible opportunity to meet new people and learn more about the sector, the roles and opportunities which existed. 

This then led me to School for Life (SFL). I have been with SFL for 5 years, starting out as our CEO and co-founder Annabelle Chauncy’s, Executive Assistant.

In 2018 I was fortunate to spend 6 months at SFL’s schools in Uganda, going into communities, and collecting data with our Ugandan team to assess the impact of our work. It was an unforgettable experience. I wish I could bottle up the experience of visiting the schools in Uganda and share it with each and every one of you.

Today, I’m proud to be leading our fundraising activities and working closely with our Ugandan team to be able to share and communicate with you the life-changing impact we are having in Uganda.

 
 

FUN FACTS

  • Are you a coffee or tea drinker? Tea or a hot chocolate!

  • What book have you read that has left the biggest impression on you? There are a few but one of my favourites is The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. There is nothing like being able to give the present moment your full attention.

  • What's your favourite meal? I love Mexican food and a cheeky margarita. 

  • Where's the most interesting place you've ever been? Cappadocia in Turkey is like nowhere I’ve ever been. The landscapes are breathtaking and waking up for the sunrise hot air ballooning is once in a lifetime. Also the Gorilla trekking in Uganda – once in a lifetime! 

  • What would you say is your greatest achievement (can be personal or professional)? Being willing to get out of my comfort zone whether it has been personally or professionally – it’s not easy but it’s always worth it. 

  • What was your first job? Delivering pamphlets in our local neighbourhood, I learnt early on the power of teamwork (thanks mum!) and efficiency.  

Success Stories
Goretti

Sweet and shy Goretti lives with her aunt, uncle and cousins in a small house in the local village. When Goretti was younger, she moved in with her aunt and uncle because her parents could no longer look after her. She was one of our first students at Katuuso Primary, starting in 2011 when she was just 4 years old. Now, Goretti is in Senior One at Mbazzi High School, and is relishing the honour of being a high school student in her community - something that is taken for granted in Australia, but in Uganda, represents freedom and opportunity. Goretti also loves attending School for Life because she hopes to one day become a pilot in Uganda - a dream which she knows can only be reached with the help of a good education.

Violah

Violah has been at School for Life since since she was six years old. Sadly, Violah has experienced hardship no child should ever deal with. Her Dad passed away three years ago, leaving her Mum without the financial means to support her family - so she left Violah and her siblings with their elderly grandmother. Every day, Violah has to wake up at 5am to fetch water, cook meals and make sure that her younger sisters are properly looked after. Then she walks half an hour to get to school. Despite this adversity, Violah has flourished at school and has made many friends. She loves that School for Life is "helping me to build a future". After finishing school, Violah hopes to become a teacher to help other children.

Umar

Umar is one of our best performing students at Mbazzi Riverside High School - but life has not always been easy for Umar. His father abandoned the family in 2015, leaving his mother to struggle to support her five children on her own. School for Life has provided Umar with opportunities that may never else have eventuated for him. Umar begun his journey with School for Life at Katuuso Primary School, where his academic ability was quickly revealed. Now, he is a thriving member of our Senior 1 class and a formidable wing on the football team. With a love for mathematics, Umar is set on studying electronic engineering after finishing his senior studies - a goal which he is the first to admit is now within reach thanks to the skills and resources provided to him by School for Life.

Rose Nambooze

Rose is a 32‐year‐old single mother of one. She started working with SFL in 2013, after taking part in our tailoring training program. Prior to working with us, she was unemployed and living in her father's home helping to care for her father, who had cataracts, and his farm.
Thanks to her full time employment, Rose was able to save enough money to pay for an eye operation and restore her father's sight, allowing him to return to work as a mechanic. Now, Rose has moved into her own home and no longer relies on her father financially. 

Joseph

Joseph is one of our Special Needs teachers at Katuuso. After surviving a severe case of malaria at age four, he was left permanently deaf. He was raised by his single mother and attended a nursery school for the handicapped and later transferred to a school for the Deaf in Kampala. He eventually mastered sign language and pursued a university degree in education. Joseph decided to become a teacher so that he could give the gift of education to others who are hearing impaired.

Teddy Namatovu

Teddy is a participant in the Kumi Tailoring Program and four of her five children attend Katuuso Primary School. She and her husband farm two acres of land, which supplies fluctuating revenue. Participation in the Kumi Tailoring Project has secured income to reliably pay for school fees, nutritious meals and renovations to the family home. Teddy has gained a great deal of self-esteem from her ability to support her family and she takes pride in independently financing the education of all five children. Teddy has also been working on her numeracy and administration skills. She was appointed Treasurer of the tailoring group and will be responsible for keeping records of their savings.

Flaviah Nassaazi

Flaviah Nassaazi started working at Katuuso Primary and Vocational School in 2011. Prior to cooking at the school, she and her husband were subsistence farmers. They worked tirelessly for small yields and minimal income to support their family. Flaviah's cooking job not only enables her to pay school fees for her children, but she has also invested in a local barbershop business. She is now passing her cooking skills onto her eldest son Frank, who has also joined the school's cooking staff. Flaviah and her husband attend the adult literacy classes offered weekly at the school. Her English and reading have improved immensely, as well as her confidence.

Rachel

In 2010, Rachel began as a cleaner at Katuuso Primary and Vocational School. She was working to save money to study to be a teacher at University. Thanks to Barrie and Simone Goldsmith, her dream of studying came true and she is now fully qualified.