Dr. Rachael Hagues:
In this episode of The Storied Outdoors, we welcome Dr. Rachel Hagues—a social work professor, hearts-on-the-ground practitioner, wife, mother, and avid road-runner whose journey spans from university lecture halls to the red clay roads of Tanzania. Rachel shares the remarkable story behind Tumaini Jipya (New Hope) Secondary Girls’ School, the result of nearly twenty years of research, partnership, prayer, and perseverance through her work with ROCK International and Samford University.
From the first spark of calling to the unforgettable moment when motorcycles hummed and students arrived on opening day, Rachel’s story is a testament to what happens when faith and vocational purpose converge. She also shares the adventure of celebrating her 40th birthday atop Mount Kilimanjaro, and how the wild places—whether on the slopes of a mountain or in communities on the margins—become sacred spaces where God’s story meets our own.
What We Explore in This Episode
1. Calling, Vocation & Early Beginnings
– What first stirred Rachel’s calling into social work and international service?
– How her time in Tanzania transformed research into a lived story.
2. The Birth of Tumaini Jipya Girls’ School
– The emotional journey from vision to opening day in January 2023.
– How community partnership, local faith, and shared vision made the impossible possible.
– The powerful moment when the girls arrived for the first time.
3. Community, Hospitality & Shared Mission
– Stories of generosity, land offered in faith, and deep local ownership.
– How hospitality and shared meals shaped Samford students and Rachel alike.
4. Leadership with ROCK International
– Rachel’s role as General Secretary and how her work in the classroom and the field informs her leadership.
5. Resilience, Faith & the Long Journey of Hope
– What sustained her during the long years of planning, praying, and waiting.
– What the future holds for Tumaini Jipya and global education initiatives.
7. The Storied Outdoors Connection
– How wilderness moments—literal and metaphorical—shape us.
Links & Resources
– ROCK International — https://rockintl.org
– Samford University — https://www.samford.edu
– Learn more about Tumaini Jipya Girls’ School
– Follow The Storied Outdoors for more conversations on faith, adventure, and the stories that shape us.
Samford Article Link Here
Support the School financially
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