Tzu Chi commissioners presenting the meal and bookstore vouchers to the students with a 90-degree deep bow. The heartwarming atmosphere deeply touches those at the ceremony. (Photo by Chua Teong Seng)
“Because we are a family, we support each other and are grateful to each other…”
Facing close to 500 students, Rakin, a secondary four student from MacPherson Secondary School didn’t suffer from stage fright and sang ‘One Family’ at the 2012 'Seeds of Hope' Bursary Presentation Ceremony. To the loud applause at the end of his performance, he took a deep bow and walked down from the stage confidently.
“I didn’t expect myself to be so bold as to stand in front of an audience and perform, I am glad that I can do my part to repay Tzu Chi.” Stricken with hereditary obesity, Rakin declared happily.
Hailing from a low income family, Rakin had stayed with his family members in a tent by the seaside, as well as squatting at the void deck of a HDB flat before. In 2010, his school surfaced his case to Tzu Chi; since then, he has been a recipient of the 'Seeds of Hope' bursary and his family, a care recipient of Tzu Chi.
“In the past my younger brothers and I didn’t have any pocket money and we had to go hungry in school often. Ever since Tzu Chi came into our lives, both my family and I become much hopeful about our future and Tzu Chi volunteers are like our family members,” Rakin shared with much gratitude.
Hard work is the only way to a brighter future
In the aftermath of the global financial meltdown in 2008, Tzu Chi launched the 'Seeds of Hope' Bursary Programme to help needy students to stay focused on their studies by supporting their transportation and subsistence expenses on a monthly basis; Tzu Chi volunteers visit the students in their schools to top up their Ez-link cards and to distribute meal vouchers to them. In the first year of the programme, only half of the secondary schools nationwide benefitted under the programme, subsequently primary schools were included and for this year, the ITE is also included, and more than 160 of its students were awarded the bursaries.
Tzu Chi holds a bursary presentation ceremony before schools re-open every year. It is a heartwarming event that both students and their parents are invited to attend. As there are many attendees this year, the ceremony had to be conducted over five ceremonies over two days, namely, on 17 and 18 December. To bring the ceremony closer to the students and their parents, it was for the first time held at two schools—ITE College East and River Valley High School, respectively.
When Tzu Chi volunteers requested for permission to use the school hall for the ceremony, the principal of ITE College East, Mr Eden Liew Ee Chong, readily agreed without any hesitation. The principal explained that he sees it as the school’s responsibility to give Tzu Chi support free of charge, as anyone who has received assistance from the society should always reciprocate to the society so that loving kindness can be spread and perpetuated. During his speech at the ceremony, apart from expressing his gratitude to Tzu Chi volunteers, he also noted with much sentiment, “the presentation ceremony of Tzu Chi is very unique and touching, it is conducted with the spirit of mutual respect and gratitude.”
The vice principal of MacPherson Primary School, Mr Chong Chin Hong also went onto stage to share his life story with the audience. Mr Chong was poor when he was young, having to survive on 14 dollars for 14 days. Even when he became a teacher, he had once looked down on his own profession and was disappointed that he didn’t have an ideal life. However, he dispelled his pessimistic mentality and found for himself the values of being a teacher when a student told him, “You are my hero.”
“I hope to use my life story to spur the students on, never give up on your dreams and never look down on yourselves. So long as you put in your utmost efforts, you can always cultivate your Seeds of Hope — the English name of the Tzu Chi bursary programme.”
Giving gives a sense of achievement
Under the bright stage light, Tzu Chi commissioners took a 90-degree deep bow and presented with both hands to the students their meal and book vouchers. Some of them then put their palms together to express their sincere well wishes, while the others patted the students on their arms, reminded them softly “to study hard and be filial to your parents”. The heartwarming atmosphere deeply touched both the students and their parents at the ceremony.
Unlike previous years, the performances were no longer put up by Tzu Chi volunteers this time but the bursary recipients, such as Rakin. The students won for themselves loud applause with their lovely performances.
Adding to the meaningfulness of the ceremony was their sense of making their contributions and reciprocating to the society. Many of them came with their bamboo coin banks full of coins. They hoped that they could repay the society while receiving assistance from it. A parent, Zhu Xiuyun, brought a bamboo coin bank home after attending the ceremony last year, “I have taught my kids to make their own donations to the society, even though it is not a lot of money, the intention is what matters.”
The two children of Madam Zhu bear her teachings in mind and drop their coins into the coin bank every day before leaving for school. Her elder son, Guo Jianting, a secondary two student at Bedok Green secondary school, hold the coin bank in his hands and said, “my mother says the money can help the others, the way that Tzu Chi helps us.”
As the saying goes, parents are the role models for their children; another mother, Punusamy Vanidah, set an example for her children by participating in Tzu Chi’s voluntary work. Her daughter, Tulasi, became a beneficiary of the bursary programme in 2010, and that was how Vanidah got to know Tzu Chi. The family of four has to rely on her husband who works as a warehouse assistant for living and life is tough for them. Tzu Chi’s assistance allows her daughter to have her peace of mind and focus on her studies, and Vanidah is very grateful to Tzu Chi for that.
After knowing Tzu Chi, Vanidah started to take part in Tzu Chi’s activities, from doing recycling work, attending sharing and training sessions, to doing voluntary work, Vanidah has been enjoying herself so much that her daughter follows in her footsteps. She hopes to be certified as a Tzu Chi volunteer and receives her grey uniform next year and continues to improve herself spiritually through partaking Tzu Chi’s activities. “Though I can’t make financial contributions, I can contribute in my own way to protect and love Mother Earth.”
Three school cleaners on duty of River Valley High voluntary joined Tzu Chi as donating members after having spent one whole day observing the contributions and commitment of the Tzu Chi volunteers at the ceremony. The three of them made a vow to make their monthly contributions to the bursary programme to help needy students after watching the introduction video about Tzu Chi and the 'Seeds of Hope' Programme screen during the ceremony.
Though their incomes are not high, two of them, Haisyah and Palani, donated their wages for two days to Tzu Chi on the spot, as “charity has to be done with a sense of urgency”, and they are anxious to make their contributions to the society.
“It is OK, I can still survive after making the donation. I am sincere about donating,” Haisyah said with much conviction.
Turning the negatives into positives with determination
On 17 December at 5 pm, the coordinator for the north region bursary presentation ceremony, Sister Lim Hooi Cheng, learnt that MRT service for the following day would start only at 12 noon due to a last minute massive maintenance work. Concerned that the students and their parents might not be able to arrive in time for the ceremony, the organizing committee of the ceremony convened for an urgent meeting and decided to commence the ceremony half an hour late at 11.30am. Ever caring, they also decided to order 800 buns as snacks for the attendees of the ceremony.
Unfortunately, it started to rain heavily before the ceremony started. The volunteers brought umbrellas to receive the students and parents at the bus stops nearby, much to the pleasant surprise of the parents.
Siti Nuradila, a student of Fuchun Secondary School, left her home in Malaysia early in the morning and crossed the causeway to arrive at Marsiling MRT station. As MRT train service was suspended temporarily, she had to take four buses and spent two and a half hours to arrive at River Valley High School. Along the way, it did cross her mind to give up and return home; but she decided to persevere due to her gratitude to Tzu Chi, “I have to make it to the ceremony no matter what,” she said.
Coming from a background of family violence, she used to witness the quarrels between her parents and the beating of her mother by her father. Her parents have separated from each other and she is currently living with her father who has toned down his temper a lot for the sake of taking care of her and her elder brother. Looking back, the teenager felt lucky that she had survived the dark period in the past.
A few months ago, her father lost his job due to poor health. As they are still waiting for the allocation of a rented HDB flat, they are now temporarily staying in Johor, Malaysia, which was why Siti has to travel to and fro between Malaysia and Singapore to attend school. Though life has been tough, she smiled and resigned herself to her fate. Luckily, she has Tzu Chi to count on and doesn’t have to take up part time job; she can then focus on her studies.
At the ceremony, upon hearing the song 'Give Love', Siti couldn’t hold back her tears. She felt deeply for the message from the song, “to stay strong and press ahead with courage”. She believes that so long as she studies hard, she will be able to help improve the financial conditions of her family.
“My grades have improved a lot recently! I will definitely come forward the next time Tzu Chi needs my help!” Siti enthused with much gratitude for Tzu Chi.
The 'Seeds of Hope' Bursary Programme was launched in 2009 following the 2008 global economic meltdown. At present, the global economic outlooks are bleak due to many reasons and the road to recovery is sluggish. Singapore, being an open economy, is not spared. The financial support from the bursary programme provides a safety net for the needy students, giving them their peace of mind and a sense of security that they will face no disruptions in their studies.
Parents came with their children to attend the bursary presentation ceremony, with Tzu Chi volunteers providing them directions along the way. (Photo by Alvin Tan)
Volunteers brought umbrellas to usher parents and students arriving in heavy rain to the venue of the ceremony from nearby bus stops. Both parents and students were pleasantly surprised by the volunteers’ warm hospitality. (Photo by Khoo Pin Joo)
Educational banners were on display outside the ceremony venue to promote environmentalism and vegetarianism. Seen here are parents and students having their time well spent while waiting for the ceremony to begin. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
To bring the ceremony closer to the students and their parents, the five ceremonies this year were held at two school halls. Shown here is the vivacious ceremony held at River Valley High School. (Photo by Chai Yu Leong)
Third year in its running, the bursary programme also includes ITE this year, benefitting more than 160 ITE students. (Photo by Alvin Tan)
"Because we are a family, we rely on each other for support and are gratitude to each other…" Rakin, a secondary four student from MacPherson Secondary School sang the song 'One Family' at the ceremony. (Photo by Alvin Tan)
The performance 'Thank You, Teacher' by the sign language team comprising both teachers and students from Yusof Ishak Secondary School won them loud applause from the audience. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
Vice principal of MacPherson Primary School, Mr Chong Chin Hong, used his life story to encourage students to never give up on their dreams and always nurture their Seeds of Hope – the English name of the bursary programme. (Photo by Chua Teong Seng)
Many students came to the ceremony with their bamboo coin banks full of coins. They presented the coin banks to the Tzu Chi commissioners, doing their parts to contribute to the society from which they receive support. (Photo by Khor Kim Seng)
Mdm Zhu Xiuyun took home a bamboo coin bank last year and her elder son started dropping coins into the coin bank every morning before leaving for school, bearing her teaching in mind to reciprocate kindness back to society. (Photo by Alvin Tan)
Punusamy Vanidah got to know Tzu Chi and started participating in its voluntary work in 2010 when her daughter became a beneficiary of the bursary programme. Vanidah enjoys doing recycling work, as well as attending sharing and training sessions; she has also influenced her daughter to join her in such activities. (Photo by Bernard Ng)
Haisyah (left) and Palani (right) were among the three cleaners of River Valley High School so touched by the atmosphere and meaningfulness of the bursary presentation ceremony that they voluntarily came forward to join Tzu Chi as donating members. They even donated their wages for two days to Tzu Chi. (Photo by Douglas Lee)
As MRT train service was suspended temporarily on Sunday morning, Siti Nuradila had to take four buses and spent two and a half hours to arrive at River Valley High School. Along the way, it did cross her mind to give up and return home; but she decided to persevere. (Photo by Edna Tay)
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