The 2 days 1 night Tzu Chi Teenagers’ Class Camp was held on 14 and 15 Nov. Besides the 80 participants ranging from 13 to 17 years-old, there were also several class graduates who took up appointments like programme coordinator, emcees and etc, adding a meaningful dimension to the activity.

The students’ team spirit and unity were put to test by a game of skipping rope. Through these games, the students were able to pick up important values of unity and cooperation.

Using the game of Monopoly to simulate the tedious process in which Master Cheng Yen had to undergo back in those days, the students were put to several tests in a limited time for building up the simulated hospitals.

In this lesson, the students learnt the fundamentals of dining etiquette as they took their meals.

The Tzu Chi youths learnt to be disciplined young adults through the various etiquette trainings to be a well mannered young adult.

Dozens of international media agencies, including the USA’s multimedia broadcasting service Voice of America, flocked to Shanlin Township to report on the joyous occasion.

By balancing a pen on their heads, the students learned to walk with proper posture as they strode through obstacles.

After watching the video “Spiritually flawless”, Tzu Chi youth 刘馨渝 was inspired and touched by Hsieh Kun-shan’s life story which made her feel remorseful towards some hurtful words to her Mum some time ago. At the same time, 馨渝 felt grateful to her parents for giving her a well and able body.

CEO of Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore Branch), Brother David Liu wished the students to be a wise person, as with intelligence, one will then be able to make proper choices in life, like being filial to one’s parents and controlling one’s temper.

It is approaching year end, and the secondary school students have completed their year-end exams. What awaits them next is the highly anticipated six weeks long holiday, a good opportunity for the wearied students to drain off the pressures accumulated from the academic year and prepare themselves for their new challenges ahead. 

Whenever this period of the year comes around, Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore Branch) would take the opportunity to hold enrichment camps for its teenagers’ class. Besides welcoming the new batch of students, graduates from past classes are also engaged in the camp to share with the juniors their advancements throughout the years.

“Treasure your youth and not let it slip past in vain” was the theme for this year’s enrichment camp conducted on 14 to 15 Nov. The programme team tailored a string of energetically fueled activities to enable the teens to learn while having fun.

From the hands-on etiquette lesson to the awe-inspiring film of a mouth-and-foot painting artist Hsieh Kun-shan, as well as a simulation game based on Master Cheng Yen’s tedious endeavor in establishing hospital in rural Hualien, the teens were able to generate a heart of appreciation to the privileged environment which they are in, and that leaves many in anticipation of how well these young seeds would flourish one day.

A good hand

Mr Hsieh Kun-shan, the inspiration behind the TV serial “A Good Hand” lost an eye, a leg and both his arms to a freak accident involving high pressure electricity contact while on his job.

Instead of drowning himself in misery over the cruel physical state that he was in, Hsieh overcame the odds by adopting a positive outlook and living confidently in his new way of life. He never dwelled on how much he had lost, but instead appreciates what he still has. With that, Hsieh managed to lead a happy life  as he became an established mouth and foot artist, a dedicated husband and a caring father of two eventually.

The following quote was brought to life by Hsieh, and could well be his source of life: “Life can be dark and dim, but it could also be bright and colourful, the choice is in our hands”.

Hsieh’s unshakable will brought him to achieve accomplishments beyond the reach of others and that has certainly repaid the care and concerns given by his family. Inspired by that, Tan Li Tong, 16, made a wish to treasure herself even more as a repayment to her parents.

In order to relieve the burden on his family members, Hsieh came up with innovations and inventions to enable him to help out with the chores at home. That deeply touched the heart of 15-years-old Low Xin Yi, who recalled the hurtful things she did to her parents.

There was once that she had a quarrel with her mum over a school outing that she’s keen on going; so keen that she refused to go for the intended trip to Taiwan to attend her father’s graduation ceremony, despite having already bought air ticket to Taiwan. She got so mad during the quarrel that she blurted “I hate you” to her mum and cried, a remark she still regrets saying. While watching Hsieh Kun-shan’s film, Xin Yi couldn’t help but to be grateful to her parents for giving her a well and able body.   

The Monopoly game

More than 20 years ago, there was a crucial lack of medical facilities in the eastern part of Taiwan, and patients need to overcome mountains and rivers just to seek treatment, worsening their conditions in the process. Thus, Master Cheng Yen decided to build a hospital in Hualien to guard and protect the health of the eastern Taiwanese.

Under circumstances where there was a sore lack in resources like funds, manpower and land, the Master upheld the belief that “When there’s a will, there’s a way” and strode on firmly overcoming all odds to finally established the hospital for the poor and needy.

Using the game of Monopoly to simulate the tedious process in which the Master had underwent, the students were put through several tests in a limited time to build up the simulated hospitals. The challenges that the Master had to overcome back in those days were astonishing, she stood firm to her belief and concepts despite the sounds of different opinions surfacing within and outside the foundation on the rejection of the 2 billion dollars donation from a Japanese businessman. Many felt that it was not going to be an easy task raising extensive amounts of funds from the masses, so why did the Master refuse the offer?

The concept of building a hospital with the love and blessings of the people, for the people, was the reason why Master Cheng Yen insisted to stick with the hard way. 

More obstacles started to surface as the Master and her team progressed on, with the land that was given initially by the government suddenly being reclaimed for military developments. That left Master Cheng Yen and the members of Tzu Chi on a cross road to decide whether should they return the public’s donations and call off the whole project or should they fight for the rights to claim the taken land?

The choice was none of the above, as the Master chose a more peaceful yet persistent resolution by seeking for an alternate location elsewhere, eventually securing a place.

As the teens conquered the challenges in the game, they were able to realize the meaning of “Have self-respect and trust the innate goodness of others”, “In order to inspire kind and loving thoughts, one must uphold firm belief and aspiration by living them out into actions” – extracted from Jing Si Aphorisms.

As the students participated in the games and activities, they would share experiences on their personal developments, also learning to care and respect their peers, parents and teachers. All these initiated the students to treasure what they have at the moment and putting into practice the humanistic concepts learnt. It truly brings out the theme of the camp, “Treasure your youth and not let it slip past in vain”. 

Lin Ze Jian, currently studying in Sembawang Secondary school, was very much an intovert in the past and seldom talks to his neighbours. One year after joining the Tzu Chi Teenagers’ camp, Ze Jianfound himself starting to initiate contacts with others by greeting them with a smile. During the school holidays, he even went to Batam with his peers to teach the local children English. It was through this special giving experience that Ze Jianfound himself very fortunate.  

Teenagers are like little flowers under the sun which need proper conditions in order for them to bloom into beautiful flowers. A journey of a thousand miles starts from a single step, so a bright future must be cultivated from accomplishing small tasks with perseverance, determination and courage.