The St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation announced plans to embark on an education initiative during a special ceremony on Sunday to thank its volunteers and members and to give an insight into the work of the Buddhist compassion relief organization over the past calendar year.
The well-attended event showed the cultural diversity of St. Maarten with performances from the Dominicano community, Filipino Community and local and Caribbean children who performed a prayer in both English and Chinese. It was also supported by volunteers from the Haitian and Indian communities, while attendees included persons from many other communities represented in St. Maarten.
During the event seasoned educator Claire Elshot, also a Tzu Chi volunteer, announced that her education foundation - All Children's Education (ACE) Foundation - and Tzu Chi Foundation will be collaborating to keep the doors of ACE open and to continue educating children academically with a special focus on embracing humanitarian principles.
Elshot said ACE has been encountering increasing challenges meeting its financial obligations and was considering closing its doors until Tzu Chi Foundation stepped in and agreed to work with and assist the institution.
A major part of the education initiative is the purchase of a property which will be initially used by ACE school and eventually blossom into a special education initiative that would focus heavily on developing pupils to embrace humanitarian and moral principles as well as other life skills. The initiative is geared towards instilling in youngsters a strong academic base with an equally strong sense of compassion, love and understanding in keeping with the principles of ACE and Tzu Chi Foundation.
Prior to the introduction of compulsory education in St. Maarten, Foundations such as ACE were the only institutions that catered to the educational needs of undocumented immigrant children in St. Maarten. As a result scores of immigrant children who had been barred from the regular education system had a chance to be educated, learn English (for those who came from non-English speaking countries) and many, Elshot said are now doing well in the community and are excelling at other government and semi-subsidized schools now that compulsory education is enforced.
Tzu Chi Foundation also launched its first newsletter during Sunday's event, which was compiled by its volunteers. The newsletter will be printed quarterly and will include information about the work of the foundation in preceding months.
In addition to regular volunteers, Sunday's event was also supported by ACE pupils and teachers who were instrumental in welcoming and serving guests a healthy vegetarian dinner. The pupils and volunteers also played a key role in other aspects of the event such as pinning guests with corsages and 'hand washing' a special feature at Tzu Chi events.
Other performances included a dragon dance; video presentations of Tzu Chi's work locally; the handing out of special "Red Pocket" gifts to guests, which has a special significance for Tzu Chi Foundation as well as the emptying of "Bamboo Banks," a special ritual at Tzu Chi events.
Volunteers and members were thanked for their continuous support of the foundation, while attendees were thanked for their presence. The event was held on Sunday in commemoration of Chinese New Year celebrated this time of the year.
Tzu Chi Commissioner Sandra Cheung and her husband Wing Cheung are grateful for all those who were instrumental in the success of Sunday's event as well as all those who continue to support the foundation and its efforts.
Sandra and Wing founded the St. Maarten Chapter of Tzu Chi Foundation on February 19, 2004. They were inspired and motivated after learning about Tzu Chi international founder Master Cheng Yen's mission at a book exhibition at the Hong Kong Library Center in July 2002.
Persons interested in volunteering for or becoming members (donors) of the local chapter can contact any Tzu Chi volunteer or Cheung at Tel: 586-3019 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Tzu Chi Foundation Press Release
