PHILIPSBURG:--- With the new school year approaching, the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation St. Maarten distributed 300 school bags to help children from families in need begin the year with essential school supplies.
Each bag included exercise books, a ruler, a pack of markers, a pack of crayons, a pack of colored pencils, folders, and a sturdy pencil case with pens, pencils, erasers, glue, a sharpener, highlighters, whiteout, and a pair of scissors.
Tzu Chi St. Maarten distributed the school supply bags on Saturday, August 8, at its new location in the Cake House Building on L.B. Scott Road. The event brought together children, parents, guardians, teachers, and volunteers in a shared effort to support education.
The school bags were prepared mainly for children from long-term underprivileged families under Tzu Chi’s care, as well as for schools assisting students with limited support. Many parents, guardians and teachers attended to collect the bags on behalf of the children.
The programme, which was hosted by cultural icon Clara Reyes, began with the prayer song “Love and Care”, during which participants offered prayers for people affected by disasters, conflict and hardship around the world.
SaiFong Chu (Sandra Cheung), head of Tzu Chi St. Maarten, then shared the history of Tzu Chi’s education mission, which began soon after the establishment of its medical mission.
In the late 1980s, Dharma Master Cheng Yen saw that many Indigenous girls in Hualien, Taiwan, had limited opportunities to continue their education or obtain stable employment.
In response, she founded the Tzu Chi Nursing College, which opened on September 17, 1989, with 107 students. More than 20,000 people attended the opening ceremony, demonstrating strong community support for education.
From that first nursing college, Tzu Chi’s education mission gradually developed into a complete educational system. Today, it also includes international schools, preschools, and weekend Chinese schools around the world.
Cheung also shared Tzu Chi St. Maarten’s aspiration to begin its own education mission from its new location and create a caring environment where children can learn not only knowledge, but also gratitude, respect, kindness and responsibility.
“This gathering was not only about giving away school bags,” Cheung said. “It was about bringing teachers, parents, guardians and volunteers together to support our next generation. A school bag may be a simple gift, but it carries our love, encouragement and hope for each child’s future.”
Local volunteers and the financial support of Master Cheng Yen, founder of the Tzu Chi Foundation, made the event possible.
Many recipients expressed their appreciation for the donations and thanked the foundation for its continued work in the community.
One recipient, Irene, who identified herself as a mother and grandmother, thanked the Tzu Chi Foundation, Cheung, and her support team for helping families in the community. “Today, for this occasion, I'm very grateful to the Tzu Chi Foundation, Sister Sandra, and her Support team under the Mentorship of Dharma Master Cheng- Yen,” Irene said.
She also thanked the foundation for its yearly back-to-school commitment to children. “I say thanks to the Tzu Chi Foundation for their yearly back-to-school commitment to our children. By getting them ready for the year with a new schoolbag with contents.”
Irene said she was happy to see parents and children receiving the bags. “I'm seeing so many happy faces from parents and children......Even I am happy to collect for my grandchildren.”
She also expressed appreciation for Chu’s work and the inspiration of Master Cheng Yen.
“I said it, and I will say it again.... Thanks Sister Sandra for mastering the inspirations of Master Cheng-Yen Spiritual....Cultivation and the work to relieve suffering in St. Maarten and the Caribbean.”
Cheung said she is grateful to everyone whose efforts made the event possible, to all recipients for accepting the donations, and expressed appreciation to Clara Reyes for graciously hosting the event.
