The District 24 Board is empowered by the District to make awards of District 24 Honorary Membership to individuals who, over an extended period,  demonstrate a substantial contribution to advancing the status of women through community service and/or their personal endeavours.

In May 2009, the District 24 Board recognised by such an award the endeavours, contributions and achievements of Gemma Sisia, as founder of the School of St Jude in Tanzania.

In 2002, the School of St Jude opened with only a handful of sponsored children.  The rest is, as they say, history - although history still very much in the making.  Under Gemma’s leadership, with no lack of speed bumps to negotiate along the way, the School is now known all over the world for what is being achieved and for the positive impact on Tanzania.  Every week continues to bring a new achievement in physically extending the school, providing professional development and fulfilment for the locally recruited teachers and senior academic staff, guiding the children and their families on their individual journeys, continuing to raise funds and doing the myriad of other things that substantiate the objective of the School of “fighting poverty through education”.

The Zonta Club of Botany Bay first began sponsoring a girl, Rukia Shabani, at St Jude’s in 2005, after learning about Gemma and the School on ABC’s Australian Story. The sponsorship continues jointly with the Zonta Club of Central Coast.  In 2007, as the keynote speaker for the District 24 Area 1 Workshop, Gemma gave a very frank and genuinely inspirational account of the journey so far in building St Jude’s, and inspired many other Zontians to support her work in various ways.

Gemma’s book is a “must read” for every aspiring leader, not least young women who wonder where their path in life might take them.  Visit the St Jude’s web site to buy Gemma’s book, or to find out more about other ways to support St Jude’s.