Tzu Chi commissioners present the Seeds of Hope financial awards to new Secondary One students with a respectful bow. (Photo by Lin Meng Cai)
In line with the changing times, Tzu Chi volunteers realised that students need emotional support as well as a chance to be more independent. As of 2015, Tzu Chi will no longer distribute meal coupons and transport vouchers. The students will have the financial aid transferred to their bank account instead; this encourages them to better manage their finances and displays the respect and trust that the Foundation has for students.
The second round of the SOH financial awards was held on 21 March 2015 in two separate sessions. “We are spreading Great Love, not showing how much financial assistance Tzu Chi is providing,” Administrative Manager Mr Keng Lim told recipients. The theme of the distribution ceremony was filial piety and every recipient was given a book titled “The Essence of Filial Piety” in the hopes that they too, would espouse the same value in their lives.
Filial Piety— A Cycle of Continuous Love
A video featuring filial piety was shared during the award ceremony, encouraging everyone to seize the opportunity to be filial towards their parents. The video centered on three Tzu Chi recipients, illustrating how parents take care of their sick children without regrets. These heart-wrenching and real life stories brought tears to the eyes of many in the audience who are parents themselves.
Muhamad Ibnu has been a SOH recipient for many years. His family is very happy and treasures the assistance provided. He is a cheerful and sensible child. However, life is full of unpredictability and he had to deal with the loss of his mother a year ago. Ibnu’s mother was very supportive of Tzu Chi even though she was of a different religious and racial background. Hearing news of Tzu Chi events or members would often make her day.
Ibnu’s father, Kadiv said, “We have been very thankful of Tzu Chi because when we needed help, a little assistance from Tzu Chi went a long way.” Kadiv was most touched by the story of parental love from the videos. After the ceremony, Ibnu sincerely expressed his love and gratitude to his father and the both of them agreed to do more to help others in need and continue his mother’s love.
Secondary One student, Sit Li Xin attended the ceremony accompanied by her mother. She received the SOH assistance when she was in Primary Six and also obtained recognition for her good conduct. Li Xin said that she would study hard so as to be able to repay her parents’ kindness in future. “What I can do now is to help my mother with the chores,” she said. She would also go to her father’s bicycle shop to help wash and clean bicycles.
“Life was difficult before and even though the financial assistance is not a lot, it has helped take some burden off our shoulders” said Li Xin’s mother, Mdm Tjong. Li Xin hopes to eventually contribute to society by doing well in school. “I would also like to be a volunteer to help others if I have the chance,” she said.
Instilling Positivity in Students
Teacher Clara Ong from Juying Secondary School who recently became a mother, realised the importance of parents from watching the videos. She saw how parents bring up their children regardless of circumstances, without complaints or regrets. Seeing how students take things for granted, Ms Ong plans to cultivate the value of gratitude in her class by getting them to think of three events to be thankful of each day.
Similarly touched by the videos, Principal of Queenstown Secondary School Mr Ong Kah Hui, shared his thoughts in an impromptu speech. He expressed that if we divide a human lifespan into four stages, the most important phase would be the second ten-year period because each person is like a seed awaiting to blossom with its limitless potential during those schooling years.
“I particularly like what the boy in the video said: ‘There is a limit to what one person can do, but when everyone works together, that becomes a positive force for change in society.’”
Mr Ong emphasized the importance of inculcating the right values in life and hoped that everyone will maintain a positive mental attitude; only right thinking will lead them on to a bright future.
Vice-Principal of Yishun Secondary School Mr Wu Tian Hwee shared that he received bursaries in his student days as he did not come from a well to do family. Mr Wu has always remembered the assistance he had received when he was young. He reminded the students not to forget those who have helped them before and to do their bit to give back to society in future.
Just before the end of the ceremony, an episode of “Life Wisdom” was screened. In the video, Master Cheng Yen highlighted that everyone should do all they can to help needy students, as a way to nurture talents for society, and that this is what Tzu Chi volunteers do in many parts of the world. “When these children graduate in the future and are able to contribute what they have learned to society, the efforts put in educating them will be worthwhile.”
Education is a long path, but if we put our hearts into it, small seedlings will eventually develop into big trees.
Every SOH recipient was given a book titled, “The Essence of Filial Piety”, in the hopes that they too, would espouse the same value in their lives. (Photo by Chai Yu Leong)
When the video featuring three real life stories on how parents took care of their sick children without regrets was being shown, many in the audience who are parents themselves were moved to tears. (Photo by Lin Meng Cai)
Muhamad Ibnu (middle) and his family spoke of how they wanted to contribute to society and to help others in need, so as to pass on his late mother’s love. (Photo by Cheng Li Xia)
Inspired by a touching video on parental love, teacher Clara Ong (right) of Juying Secondary School decided to nurture gratitude in her students through a daily class exercise. (Photo by Lin Meng Cai)
Principal of Queenstown Secondary School Mr Ong Kah Hui emphasized the importance of positive thinking as a path to a better future. (Photo by Lin Meng Cai)
Vice-Principal of Yishun Secondary School Mr Wu Tian Hwee (second from right, in white shirt) signs along with others during the song segment, “Be Brave, Be Courageous”. (Photo by Chai Yu Leong)
After the ceremony concluded, both parents and children brought home with them the value of filial piety and hope. (Photo by Lin Meng Cai)
Share 
