Tzu Chi Taiwan marks its 53rd anniversary on the 24th of the third lunar month, which happens to be the birthday of its founder, Master Cheng Yen. Students from Great Love PreSchool visit the Jing Si Hall on this day to learn about the world of Tzu Chi.

Preschooler
(Teng Yi Zhe, Ethan)
We came here to learn about the Master.

(Htoo Aung Khant)
Preschooler 
We went to the bookstore, which has books on stories told by the Master.

We went to the bookstore, which has books on stories told by the Master. 
Teachers from the PreSchool have organised a few learning stations, where the students learn from various stories. At the Charity station, they hear about the good deeds of people and learn to make a choice, too.

I’m going to give all of you a one dollar coin. You can donate the coin into the Bamboo Bank to help (the needy) or use it to buy chocolate.

Let’s find out what they choose to do with the one dollar coin.

(Teng Yi Zhe, Ethan)
Preschooler
I feel sorry for the people in Africa. Their houses have collapsed and they are eating trash. We must help them.

（Charleston Hii Tiin Yean）
Preschool 
The people in Africa do not have food to eat.

(What are you going to do then?)
I’ll donate to them, because they don’t have money to buy food.

（ Lin Meifang)
Preschool teacher
I think it was a difficult choice for them. Actually, quite a lot of them wanted to buy the chocolate instead. But we prompted them that if they bought the chocolate, they wouldn’t be able to help the people in need.

Then they thought about it again and all of them said they wanted to help those people, so they donated the money in the Bamboo Bank instead of getting the chocolate. They understand that the money is more important for those in need than what they want.

The little ones also get to experience the frugal lifestyle of the Dharma masters in the early days of Tzu Chi in Taiwan as they are served plain rice with tofu. It reminds them of the nice lunch they have in school each day and to learn to be grateful.

(htoo Aung Khant)
Preschool
(Does the rice taste nice?) I like it a little bit, but the tofu was quite salty. (Why are you all eating this rice today?) It’s Master Cheng Yen’s birthday today.

(Shouldn’t you be thankful to the cook as he prepares such nice food for you?) Yes, he works very hard to cook very nice food for us.

Tzu Chi provides aid to countries around the world. Although the kids can’t really understand that in depth, the gratitude and respect they display on this day are their sincerest well-wishes for Master Cheng Yen.

（Charleston Hii Tiin Yean）
Happy Birthday, Master Cheng Yen
Wishing Master Cheng Yen long life, good health…