Five youngsters from the Jamiyah Children's Home volunteered their services at the Great Love Charity Fair on 31 Jan. Fahan Faizal (right) and Hikel Irfan (farthest left) felt happy and honored contributing to the Haitian survivors through their service.

The young dishwashers busy volunteering.

Accompanied by social worker Janeth Lawagan, five youngsters from the Jamiyah Children's Home came to the Great Love Charity Fair on 31 Jan (the second and last day of the fair) to volunteer their services. Putting on water-proof aprons, these youngsters got down to help without further instructions, washing and wiping dishes at the dishwashing area.

These five youngsters, studying in different schools, are recipients of Tzu Chi’s Seeds of Hope bursary. The bursary provides meal coupons and/or transport concession to needy secondary school and (some) primary school students.

Jamiyah Children's Home, located at Ching Cheng Avenue, is dedicated to providing “holistic residential programme and care for orphans and less fortunate children who attend normal schools”. Ms Lawagan, the Home’s social worker, shared that the Home arranged this volunteering service for the youngsters with the thought that they could repay the kindness received from Tzu Chi, especially when the cause of the fair is for charity – all of its proceeds will go toward the relief effort in quake-stricken Haiti in the Caribbean.

Fahan Faizal and Hikel Irfan, both 15, are secondary three students of Manjusri Secondary School. Both of them felt happy and honored that they could contribute to the Haitian survivors through their humble service. Hikel further added that he felt fortunate living in a country free of disaster.

Indeed, we should count our blessings in times of peace and safety. Bravo to these future pillars of our nation!