On the weekend of June 9, 2024, the Tzu Ching Experiential Day was held at the Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre. (Photo by Tong Jeat Yee)
On the morning of June 9, 2024, the sun shone brightly on the corners of the Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre. Under the warm sunlight, about thirty youths from different colleges gathered to kick off the Tzu Ching Experiential Day 2024 with a lively atmosphere.
The camp's theme was “Ignite Unite, Unveil the Light,” symbolising the brilliant kindness in everyone’s heart. Today’s youths should gather this light of kindness and work together to illuminate the unknown darkness ahead.
(Photo by Wong Twee Hee)
“The Great Love Universe” Train Sets Off
At 9 am, camp leader Melissa warmly welcomed the participants on behalf of the organising team, followed by Programme Team member Clarisha leading everyone into the camp’s interactive games.
The game background featured seven different planets in the Great Love Universe. Due to disasters and a lack of resources, the “Burning Train” members called for “recruiting kind-hearted individuals” from Earth. As part of Earth, the participants had to collaborate seamlessly to help other planets survive.
“Those in distress cannot come over, while those blessed must step forward.” This engaging game setup allowed participants to learn how to inspire kindness through interaction and sharing, becoming those who are blessed.
(Photo by Chuah Wen Cian)
Extending Kindness Together
“Throughout various stages of life, I have let go of certain burdens while taking on different responsibilities. Tzu Chings should not limit their learning or predetermine what they can contribute in the future. Even with just a small act of goodness, it can gradually make the world around it more beautiful,” said Lim Choon Choon, a former Tzu Ching who is now the Manager of the Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre, as she addressed the participants.
Having dedicated 28 years to Tzu Chi, what inspired Lim Choon Choon to devote her youth to this cause? It began in 2001 when she went to Taiwan to participate in disaster relief efforts after the 921 earthquake. This sparked a sense of kindness in her, leading her to establish the Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth Association in Singapore, where she organised pineapple tart sales to raise funds for disaster relief.
Over decades of volunteering, Lim Choon Choon has met like-minded friends who work together for goodness. Their enduring friendships have fostered a flow of kindness that extends to her and her children today.
From a fresh engineer to the head of a youth centre, Lim Choon Choon humorously noted that she finally found her familiar path in her forties. Despite scepticism about her career shift, she believes that her past experiences in communication and problem-solving have shaped who she is today.
Having dedicated 28 years to Tzu Chi, Lim Choon Choon (left) shared her experiences with the participants. (Photo by Wong Twee Hee)
Make the most of every moment to keep the love alive through action
Through a drama performance titled “Guess What I’m Acting,” Tzu Chings learned about seven forms of giving: viewing others with kindness, treating others with warmth and friendliness, speaking kind words and offering praise, taking action to help those who are weak, maintaining a kind heart and treating everyone with respect, giving up seats for those in need, and donating to help others. These principles correspond to everyday acts of kindness, such as smiling, offering seats, or helping the elderly.
Through the stage play titled "Guess What I'm Acting," Tzu Chings learned the seven types of giving. (Photo by Donn Tan)
Besides social issues, environmental protection was also a focal point of the camp. Tzu Chings displayed their expectations for Singapore’s future in areas like eco-friendly buildings, carbon emissions, and sustainability.
The camp invited Mavis Yeow from the youth centre to share insights on youth engagement in sustainability. She emphasised that while the ideal world is always more beautiful than reality, we must confront and solve current environmental problems. Quoting her vegetarian lifestyle as an example, she noted that while she must be responsible for her choices, she also faces challenges from others and her environment. However, when obstacles arise, finding solutions and taking action is crucial because actions speak louder than words; otherwise, dreams will remain unfulfilled.
Mavis encouraged young people to seize opportunities to learn and try new things while they are young to embrace their ideal future sooner.
Mavis Yeow (second from the left in the back row), a staff member of the Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre, shared with the participants about the youth's focus on sustainability. (Photo by Hong Sing Chuen)
The final segment of the camp involved a collaborative game where Tzu Chings worked together as “Burning Train” crew to collect wristbands representing different resources to save other planets. The organising team cleverly designed the game to reflect the unequal distribution of resources and skills in real life. When unfortunate events occur, the support of kind-hearted individuals is essential to overcome difficulties.
Clarisha, one of the game coordinators, expressed that the game design aimed to convey the idea of “appreciating blessings and creating more blessings,” helping young people recognise that living in a fortunate country means they should gather more strength to help those in need.
As "Burning Train" members, Tzu Ching participants collaborated to collect wristbands representing resources to save the planets. (Photo by Tong Jeat Yee)
The organising team presented the spirit of "Bamboo Bank Era" through a performance. (Photo by Wong Twee Hee)
Embracing Every Small Act of Kindness
Although the day’s activities were brief, they left a lasting impact on both the organising team and the Tzu Chings. Hao Jing, a Tzu Ching, learned about the event through Instagram and was deeply inspired by Lim Choon Choon’s sharing. She expressed that hearing about Lim’s journey from joining Tzu Chi at age 17 to becoming a full-time employee today, while still embodying Tzu Chi’s spirit, was very moving. Hao Jing noted that the phrase “Do not neglect small acts of kindness” resonated with her, and she hopes to encourage more young people to join Tzu Ching in the future.
Miya reflected on the challenges of fulfilling her responsibilities while also engaging in acts of kindness. However, through her participation in various Tzu Ching activities, she has come to appreciate the dedication of volunteers, realising that as long as one has the intention to do good, any difficulty can be overcome.
Tzu Chings exchanging ideas with the organising team. (Photo by Donn Tan)
The event was brought to life from scratch, and Wong Yun Ming, a graduating Tzu Ching who took on the role of program coordinator for the first time, was deeply moved. She expressed gratitude for the guidance from the program team and the support of her seniors. Together, they shared responsibilities, starting from nothing to conceptualizing and planning the course content. Seeing the Tzu Chings share their experiences during the camp, perfectly aligning with the camp's intended message, made her feel that despite the physical fatigue, it was all worthwhile.
The event culminated in a heart-warming segment where each participant found a small glass bottle under their chair containing the name of another participant. They exchanged names and offered blessings to one another.
Under the moonlit sky, all participants and staff gathered to sing joyfully, bringing the camp to a delightful close.
Participants discovered name tags in glass bottles under their chairs and offered their blessings to the individuals whose names they found. (Photo by Chuah Wen Cian)
Share 
