The first Tzu Chi-SMU Bursary Presentation Ceremony was held at the Jing Si Hall on 7 January 2015; in attendance were the eight recipients, their parents and a representative from the university. Photo by Teoh Moh Sang
“I can study without financial worry.” These words came from Abdul, one of the first eight recipients of the Tzu Chi-SMU Bursary established in 2015 and worth $8,000 annually.
Since its inception in 2000, SMU’s intake has exceeded 7,000 students, of which about 15% need support in the form of a bursary. The Ministry of Education subsidises 65%-80% of the total school fees, and students would need to approach either the government or the banks for an educational loan which can be repaid in instalments after their graduation. Other than the course fees, there are other miscellaneous expenses and the high costs of living in Singapore that students have to bear, and this is a heavy burden for those who come from less well-off families.
Through the bursary, Tzu Chi provides financial assistance to students studying in Singapore with no need of repayment, in the hopes that students from needy families can continue their studies despite their straightened family circumstances. At the same time, SMU also encourages their students to participate in Tzu Chi activities, that they may develop into youths that can contribute to society with much love and care.
Benefitting Students Hand in Hand with SMU
Since 2009, when Tzu Chi kicked off its “Seeds of Hope” Financial Assistance Scheme to subsidise the transport and meal expenses of primary and secondary students from needy families, more than 10,000 cases have benefitted. To encourage holistic development in the young, Tzu Chi launched the “Seeds of Hope Meritorious Award” last year to recognize the academic achievements as well as the moral character development of students.
Reflecting the view of Master Cheng Yen that “children are the hope of their parents while education is the hope of our young; society’s future lies in its talents and it is education that nurtures talents,” the Tzu Chi-SMU Bursary is open to families whose combined income is below $1,900 and requires a new application and evaluation process to be made yearly.
At the Tzu Chi-SMU Bursary Presentation Ceremony held at the Jing Si Hall on 7 January 2015, in attendance were the eight recipients, their parents and a representative from the university. From the video clips shown and from interactions with the volunteers, participants were introduced to the origins of Tzu Chi and its missions. Apart from the bursary amount of $8,000, every student also received a gift pack which contained Tzu Chi’s eco-friendly utensils, utensil bag and two books by Master Cheng Yen entitled “The Essence of Filial Piety” and “Life Economics,” an encouragement to bursary awardees to engage in timely acts of good and filial piety while living out the concepts of conserving the earth in their daily lives.
As SMU has a short history, it does not have the benefit of a big alumnus from which it can look to for support in raising educational funds for disbursement, hence it has been very active in seeking sponsoring organizations. Mr Richard Giam, representative from SMU’s Office of Advancement & Alumni said, “When the university sent out letters inviting organizations to sponsor scholarships or bursaries in April 2014,Tzu Chi was the very first organization to respond; for this I am very grateful.”
Mr Giam encourages the students to be grateful, telling them that now that they have received assistance from Tzu Chi, they should in future, give back to society in a timely manner by participating actively and learning from the Tzu Chi activities where they can.
Saying that the bursary came about because of Mr Giam’s unflagging efforts, house visit volunteer Wang Wei Xun explained that when volunteers visit the students at their home to make an evaluation, they not only take note of the student’s academic achievements; the student’s mentality and his contributions to society also count. At the same time, they also take the opportunity to let the families know that the financial aid was made possible by the contributions of many individuals in society. Some who donate may even be the less well-off, yet with their desire to contribute towards worthwhile causes, they have made their small donations work towards achieving a larger good for society.
At the presentation ceremony, Wang told the recipients, “Tzu Chi does not hope for any form of repayment from you all, (the organization) only hopes that you will be able to benefit society in future.”
In the upcoming days ahead, volunteers will conduct monthly house visits and take note of the bursary recipient’s development. At the same time, they will induct them into activities organized by the Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth Association where they can experience the care and warm camaraderie of their peers.
At the ceremony, volunteer leader Wang Wei Xun encouraged the bursary recipients to work to benefit society in future. Tzu Chi volunteers will conduct monthly house visits and also guide them to join the Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth Association, where they can experience the care and warm camaraderie of their peers. Photo by Teoh Moh Sang
Rendering Timely Aid to Students
“There was a time when I wanted to give up the thought of going to university!” Lin Jian shared that it was only under his mother’s encouragement that he managed to successfully apply for the Tzu Chi bursary after exploring many avenues of financial help. Lin is from a single-parent family and lives with his mother in a 2-bedroom apartment. His mother works in a coffee shop and as the sole breadwinner, after deducting their daily expenses and medical bills of her brother who suffers from depression, there is nothing left of her earnings for Lin Jian’s education.
For bursary recipient Yuan Xiu a first-year student, nothing describes his situation better than the idiom: “when it rains, it pours.” After the passing of his father, life was already hard. The next blow came when his mother suffered a cancer relapse and stopped work in September the year before, necessitating financial help from a sister.
Full of gratitude and joy, Yuan expressed that he had just completed his national service and had relied on his allowance to sustain his living expenses. Just when he was worrying over money matters, news of the Tzu Chi bursary came like a timely rainfall. “I can pursue studies with peace of mind now and also spend more time at home taking care of my mother.”
For Xiao Fang, uncontrollable tears sprang from her eyes as she was watching the presentation of “The Profound Parental Love” musical. Accompanied by her mother, this was the second time that she had visited the Jing Si Hall. She spoke of her gratitude for the support that her mother has shown towards the family, as well as that of her father who had been maintaining the family with his meagre wage. She was grateful for how her father had never pressured her in her studies, and how he had always encouraged and comforted her in times of need.
Feeling guilty as she felt that her grades were not ideal, she said that she would deposit the money into the bank and pay off any outstanding school fees. In her opinion, the best way to repay her parents would be to study hard and achieve good grades.
Repaying One’s Parents by Striving Towards Good
A differentiating factor of SMU is that it places much emphasis on volunteer work and students must complete 80 hours of community service before they can officially graduate. It has also established the relevant networks to assist its students in securing internships in non-governmental organizations and the voluntary welfare organizations.
Abdul, the only Malay among the eight bursary recipients and due to graduate in August 2015, actively volunteers at the Student Care Centres in his free time, helping to tutor primary school students. Through watching the introductory video on Tzu Chi Singapore entitled “Sowing Great Love in the Lion City” and hearing of the activities of Tzu Chings, he aspires to participate in care visits to the elderly as well as in the recycling activities. He said of receiving the bursary: “I can study without financial worry.”
Education is the guiding pillar of a better society and the springboard out of the poverty rut. The poor may lack the material but should not suffer from a lack of education. Deputy CEO Yu Xue You pointed out gravely: “This bursary is a culmination of the love and blessings of many people, (so) I hope all of you will use it wisely; do study hard and (remember to) give back to society. At the same time, never forget your daily tonic-- the “spiritual soup” of Tzu Chi made from the four ‘ingredients’ of contentment, gratitude, understanding and tolerance!”
As the bursary recipients received their gift pack from Tzu Chi volunteers, both giver and receiver bowed in mutual respect. In the midst of the warm and touching atmosphere, the curtains closed on the day’s ceremony after the last strains of “One Family, ” sang in unison by all, faded away into the background.
Both receiver and giver bow to each other in mutual respect during the Tzu Chi-SMU Bursary Presentation Ceremony. Photo by Teoh Moh Sang
In the midst of the warm and touching atmosphere, the curtains closed on the day’s ceremony, after the last strains of “One Family, ” sang in unison by all, faded away into the background. Photo by Teoh Moh Sang
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