BENDIGO businesses have shown their support for a school in Tanzania.

It came as part of Donate-a-Day, which Bendigo’s Nicole Murphy started five years ago.

Mrs Murphy, a podiatrist, started the day with the idea of helping Gemma Sisia who she met at university, before she later founded the School of St Jude in northern Tanzania.

It aims to fight poverty through teaching the poorest of the country’s children.

“In 2002 the school opened with only a handful of sponsored children,’’ she said.

“With hard work and determination, the school has exploded to over 1300 children on three campuses, all of whom are given a free education through sponsorship from individuals, families, clubs, and schools from around Australia and abroad.

“The school also gives employment to over 350 local Tanzanian staff including three sets of headmasters and their academic teams who now run each school.’’

Mrs Murphy said more than 3000 children turned up each Friday for the last five months of the year, trying to get a place in the school, but only 10 might get a place each week.

“The children are selected from the very poorest families. Glass in their windows or anything other than dirt on their floor makes them too well off’’.

Mrs Murphy was pleased with the support the day received on Friday, and encouraged more businesses to get involved next year.

For details, phone 0408 321 339.