SOH educational beneficiary Qaisyara (right) gives her aunt a big hug in gratitude for bringing her up. Photo by Pua Poo Toong
Shuttling busily back and forth at the reception area of the Jing Si Hall, donning Tzu Chi volunteer vests, student volunteers help to hand out shoe bags and register attendees before the commencement of the ceremony. Li Lin Zhi from MarsilingSecondary School has been a recipient of the financial assistance since 2009. She was stationed at the doorway, welcoming the visitors and was part of the group that would present a song on stage during the ceremony. She felt not only was volunteering an interesting activity, she also had the opportunity to make new friends and was thankful for the patience and help she received from the Tzu Chi volunteers.
Before the start of the new 2016 school semester, Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore) organized six SOH financial disbursement and award ceremonies for the student recipients. Photo by Pua Poo Toong
Li Lin Zhi (in her volunteer jacket) from Marsiling Secondary has been a SOH recipient since 2009 when the initiative was first launched. During the ceremony, she volunteered at the reception area and performed on stage in a song item. Photo by Su Yue Jiao
For introvert Zhuo Jing Jie, though he was nervous at having to interact with many people, volunteering at the reception desk was a challenge that he had risen to that day. Vincent Tay Yi Jian, a fellow volunteer at another reception desk, is a regular face during the Tzu Chi Recycling Day activities, together with his younger sister. He said that he now only buys what he needs and has given up buying toys for books now. Vincent also helps to take blood pressure readings of patients at the Tzu Chi Free Health Screening and Medical Clinic that is nearby his house. Expressing his gratitude that he has a healthy body, he said that he maintains an attitude of learning as much as he can from others.
Zhuo Jing Jie (second from left) is generally a reserved person but under the encouragement of volunteers, he helped out at the reception desk. Photo by Su Yue Jiao
Vincent Tay (second from left) is seen here helping out at the reception desk. He also helps out during Tzu Chi’s recycling day activities and at a Tzu Chi free clinic. Photo by Su Yue Jiao
A Ceremony that Brings Warmth and Peace
The programme team had arranged for song and sign language performances as well as a short skit for that day. The Tzu Shaos (students from the teenagers’ class) put up a skit about a family, where the children spent their time playing video games and the father indulged in smoking. The housework was done by the mother after she came home from work. One day, however, the children were invited to attend a recycling day event and after learning how to sort recyclables, they started cherishing resources and things.
The programme team arranged for students to put up a skit; in the presentation, a child participates in a recycling day activity and learns how to sort recyclables and cherish what she has. Photo by Fu Ya Tian
Nini, a parent of three children, was struck by how similar the story was to her circumstances. Moved to tears, she commented: “I think the mother in the skit is just like me.” Nini is physically and mentally tired by the lack of understanding shown by her children and husband, and said, “I like visiting the Jing Si Hall, because the environment and volunteers here make me feel warm and comfortable.”
Lin Yan Ling, a 15-year-old recipient of the SOH scheme, felt herself calming down when she stepped into the Jing Si Hall. Coming from a financially strapped family, the burden of supporting a family of five rests solely on her mother, and Yan Ling feels the weight of their circumstances bearing down on her. Both she and her mother desire that Yan Ling can continue with her education and the SOH scheme has given them that ray of hope.
Following the cue given by the emcee, Tzu Chi volunteers and students bow to each other in mutual gratitude on the stage. Yan Ling was filled with that same gratitude when she went onstage to receive her aid and gift pack. “I’m so happy today; the $50 financial assistance that starts next year can lighten my mother’s load. I’m grateful to Tzu Chi; having received this blessing today, I will treasure it and in future, return blessings to society.”
Uplifting a Family
In 2015, 48 SOH financial assistance scheme recipients were recommended for the Seeds of Hope (SOH) merit award, of which 37 students were finally awarded after evaluation. During the ceremony, they took to the stage one by one to receive their $500 award, which served as encouragement for them to continue the good work in their studies and character development.
Qaisyara, who studies at Shuqun Secondary School, was delighted at receiving the award and said that it gave her confidence and motivated her to do even better. She has lived with her aunty since she was young as her mother had passed away. However, her aunty has stopped work since three years ago due to medical problems.
The regular visits by volunteers also made Qaisyara feel that she had someone who cared for her well-being. Whenever she met with problems, she would not hesitate to seek help from them. She explained that in the past, she did not have a good relationship with her aunt and house visit volunteers would attempt to communicate with, and seek to understand her aunt.
On the other hand, her aunt’s greatest worry is that if her illness were to take a turn for the worse, there would be no one to look after her niece. Qaisyara now feels that as her aunt’s moods may be affected by her illness, it was only right that the people around her learn to understand and gradually accept her.
Qaisyara expressed her gratitude to her aunty that day with a hug, and even told her: “I love you.” Saying that she wanted to grow up to be a useful person, Qaisyara hopes to do her bit for society in future.
The Grateful are the Most Fortunate
This year is the second time that Tzu Chi is giving out financial assistance to Singapore Management University (SMU) students and 15 recipients benefitted. Mr Yan Ju Ci from SMU said, “Tzu Chi not only provides financial aid to these students but also encourages them to develop compassion.”
Impressed by the theme of this year’s ceremony which was to “know and cherish our blessings, while creating even more blessings,” he urged the students to think not of how others can help them, but to ponder over how they can change their lives, and how they can be of service to others. He also shared his view that the measure of wealth is not based on superficial riches, rather, the greatest wealth comes from mental and psychological factors.
Mr Yan Ju Ci from SMU spoke about true wealth which is different from possessing superficial riches, and encouraged students to learn how to contribute and give of themselves. Photo by Pua Poo Toong
Second time SMU beneficiary Lin An Yu remembered to bring back his “bamboo coin bank” to Jing Si Hall, so that he could pass on his love to others in the form of charity by donating his savings to Tzu Chi. “This financial assistance brings me a lot of warmth, (as) I don’t have to give tuition (to earn money) and can concentrate on my studies; I’ve always hoped to do something for Tzu Chi, therefore I would normally contribute any remaining money I have into the bamboo coin bank.”
An Yu is usually left alone at home, and over the past year, the regular visits by volunteers, especially during the period that he was preparing for the examinations, gave him much comfort. He has also started to help out at the Tzu Chi recycling point in Marine Parade and is impressed by the detail with which volunteers sort the recyclables. He shared that from the video screened at the ceremony that day, he learnt that of all the virtues, filial piety ranked foremost and remarked that apart from being a good person, it was important for one to engage in filial acts and kind deeds.
Second time SMU beneficiary Lin An Yu remembered to bring back his filled “bamboo coin bank” to Jing Si Hall, so that he could pass on his love to others. Photo by Pua Poo Toong
The hopes of a country lie in the hands of its younger generation while their future depends on education. Peng Ling Ling, a teacher in Balestier Hill Secondary School praised Tzu Chi for its efforts. She agreed with how the SOH merit award acknowledges not only academic achievements but also the students’ development in other areas. The financial aid meant that they can concentrate on their studies instead of working to earn money. Wang Yu Ling, a fellow teacher, also elaborated that the teachers would urge recipients to spend the money for appropriate reasons, thus instilling in them the right values.
At the close of the ceremony, students, parents and volunteers presented a sign language item together. Photo by Pua Poo Toong
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