Heartwarming Camp for Scholarship Students
in Indonesia
The
students learning to present sign language.
BANTEN, Indonesia -
Ninety two students, subsidized by a Tzu Chi scholarship
program, attended a three-day camp in Anyer Beach from January
8th to 10th, 2006. The camp was organized by Tzu Chi to develop
good relations with the students and to convey the concept
that love and sincere care can encourage them to improve and
better themselves.
In the camp, the students were divided
into ten teams, each of which was supervised by a Tzu Chi
volunteer. The volunteers managed the team members and looked
after their needs. The camp was held outdoors to allow the
students, mainly from impoverished families, to have more
fun. Tzu Chi culture was creatively incorporated into games
and activities that taught the students responsibility, morality,
discipline and environmental protection.
Team eight, comprised of eight boys, was
the most energetic. It was also the most mischievous. Volunteer
Mei-Yu Lin, the supervisor for the team, admitted she was
initially irritated by the boys. She said, "When I first
met them, I got mad at them. However, after one or two days,
they became docile and were willing to take my advice. Thus
I gradually added Still Thoughts (pithy sayings from Master
Cheng Yen) in my advice to them." Mei-Yu's love for and
patience encouraged the boys to change their immature and
undisciplined behavior. Rangga, the team leader, even thought
of becoming a Tzu Chi volunteer.
On the third night, before they left the
camp, the kids gathered together in a warm atmosphere of dim
candle light and guitar music. Mei-Zhen Lin, a third grade
student from Cengkarang junior high school, dreams of becoming
a teacher and has been subsidized by Tzu Chi for seven years.
She shared that she was glad to attend the camp because she
temporarily escaped from her impoverished life and met new
friends. Besides, she felt happy that Tzu Chi helped her continue
her education in junior high school.
Mei-Zhen said, "If my wish can come
true, I will no longer ask for aid. Instead, I will help others
as a way to 'repay' Tzu Chi." Like Mei-Zhen, other students
also expressed gratitude to Tzu Chi from the depths of their
hearts. They appreciated the subsidies from Tzu Chi and the
sincere love and care of the volunteers.
 Participants
learn dining
discipline and etiquette. |
 It's
sharing time! |
