Photo by Pua Poo Toong
"The bursary has very much helped my family these two years because my mum could use the saved monies to pay off our bills," said Indian student, Natashan.
Nur Illya, a Malay student who has benefitted from the bursary programme since its inception, said the over S$40 bursary does help lighten her parents' burden, who hardly earns enough to raise her and her two siblings.
Sensing the needs
The global economic downturn in 2008 has spared no country along its way, including Singapore. After rounds of survey learning that many families were affected by the downturn, Tzu Chi Singapore initiated the "Seeds of Hope" Bursary Programme after the 2009 Chinese New Year to aid needy students.
Despite prevalent news of economic recovery, the after effects of the economic downturn can still be felt among the low-income group. Some families are still having a hard time trying to return to previous living standards, price hikes and inflation has made it difficult for them, with many still struggling to make ends meet.
Therefore, in 2011, Tzu Chi Singapore stepped up its "Seeds of Hope" Bursary Programme to cover 49 secondary schools, 17 primary schools, and six welfare centres and will be helping 2294 students with their meal and transportation expenses, a significant increase from the initial 600 plus student recipients in 2009.
This year (2011), the students will also receive a Popular bookstore voucher worth either S$30 or S$50 and a monthly concession pass voucher, courtesy of Tzu Chi Singapore and Transitlink.
Extending care islandwide
Due to the large number of student recipients this year, the presentation ceremony, held at Kreta Ayer People's Theatre, was divided into three sessions across two days.
In each of the sessions, 20 Tzu Chi commissioners stood gracefully on the stage to present the meal coupons and gifts to the students. Never having attended such a graceful ceremony before, some of the vivacious pupils were seen nervously pulling up their shorts before their turn.
The commissioners and students bowed to each other in respect and gratitude during the presentation, with many seen smiling when returning to their seat, eyes glowing at their first monthly meal coupons, book voucher and a beautiful gift ornament.
There were close to 600 pupils from 17 primary schools receiving the bursary this time. Ruhaita's two sons from Xingnan Primary School were among them.
"As parents, we'd definitely rather go hungry than to starve our kids…," said a teary Ruhaita. The mother of five, the eldest being 12 and the youngest just turned four months old, stays at home to take care of her children while her husband works as a storekeeper; his lean and unstable wages could only support basic needs. The family could hardly afford renting their own residence and is now staying in the husband's parents' rented flat.
Although the children's school fees are inclusive of educational allowance, the amount was barely enough that they often skipped lunch and thus have difficulties concentrating in class. But these sensible kids simply toughed it out, not wanting to ask money from their parents. When their teachers found out, they immediately informed their school management to help the family to apply for Tzu Chi's "Seeds of Hope" bursary.
"I was really moved when I received your volunteer's phone call. I didn't expect anyone would really reach out to us," said Ruhaita, who in fact had little expectation over the application given past letdowns applying for social aid. When she received the invitation letter from Tzu Chi, the mother was so excited that she decided to bring all her kids to the presentation ceremony.
Now that her two sons are on Tzu Chi's aid, Ruhaita said she is very thankful that they could finally learn comfortably in school. Ruhaita did not study much as a child due to financial constraint. Now that her children are lucky enough to receive assistance, she hopes that they would study hard and pass the kindness onto others in future.
The second son, Muhammad, was very happy that he no longer needs to borrow money from his friends to buy lunch. Through the presentation ceremony and the video shown showing people helping one another, the youth said he is glad to know that society is still loving and hopeful.
Going deep into the dark corners
In most cases, a nation is bound to have its dark corners no matter how well its economic development is. Tzu Chi's "Seeds of Hope" bursary programme has to some extent allowed its volunteers to enter deep into the community to discover needy families and offer much needed assistance to their children's schooling.
Abdul Rashid sold his apartment a few years ago to pay off his debt. His family of five had even stayed over at their relative’s home for a period of time. The fact that he barely earns enough and his wife suffers several illnesses such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure and is therefore unfit to work resulted in the family struggling to make ends meet. Everyone in the family hardly ate enough and the couple has difficulty paying for their children's school fees.
The presentation ceremony left Abdul Rashid and his wife moved learning the Great Love spirit of Tzu Chi that does not discriminate against race and nationality.
Recalling scenes of Tzu Chi volunteers devoting themselves to the Foundation's care recipients in the video shown earlier, sometimes even better than their own family, brought tears to Abdul Rashid's wife, who felt deeply that what Tzu Chi offered was not simply money but also genuine love and warmth. Abdul Rashid, on the other hand, hoped to work harder to give his family a fulfilled and stable life.
"For students from needy families who couldn't get their stomachs filled at home, the bursary is definitely going to help them directly and also lighten their parents' burden," said Ms Rahmatunnisa Abdul Majeed, representative of Muhammadiyah Welfare Home (MWH) who was also invited to speak during the ceremony.
MWH was instituted in December 1989 as a Children’s Home for Juvenile and currently accommodates around 70 school-going youngsters. About 70% of them came from needy families, some are abused and neglected and some are Beyond Parental Control (BPC).
Besides MWH, there are five other welfare centres participating in the "Seeds of Hope" bursary programme this year. Ms Rahmatunnisa was impressed with the warm atmosphere of the presentation ceremony and lauded its uplifting elements.
MWH has always placed emphasis on education since its inception. With the bursary aid, MWH hopes that youngsters living in their Home could stay in school with peace of mind and contribute to society in future.
The beauty of giving back
Before the ceremony ended, some of the student recipients went on stage again to hand in their filled coin banks adopted earlier from Tzu Chi. Nur Illya explained that her reason of donating the savings accumulated over the past year is "because you helped us a lot, so I thought I should help others too." But Nur Illya was not alone in her philanthropy; her family often joins in filling up the bank too.
Another student, Adeline, was however hesitant of the idea of giving donation to charity when her friend shared his donation experience with her. Her friend thus encouraged her: "We should give when we are able. Think about the many people in the world who're much needier than us." Adeline's view cleared up and started saving into Tzu Chi's coin bank since. That day at the ceremony, Adeline was one of the few who came with two heavy coin banks.
Like Nur Illya and Adeline, many students shared the sentiment that even though they come from deprived families, they could still help others by saving up bit by bit.
Ms Frieda Leong, the Head of Canberra Secondary School's Pupil Welfare Department, has been in close contact with Tzu Chi since the first term of "Seeds of Hope". Seeing how Tzu Chi volunteers were concerned about the students' meals and studies and even encouraged them to work hard while they distributed the meal coupons to them, Ms Leong was surprised because "it is rare that people other than teachers and parents would care about our students".
Feeling that she should also contribute, Ms Leong adopted a coin bank from the volunteers and put it in an obvious spot in her house so that her husband and daughter would join her. That day at the ceremony, Ms Leong went on stage with her daughter to return the coin bank hoping that needy students could stay in school.
New affirmation for the New Year
Mr David Liu, the CEO of Tzu Chi Singapore, noted in his speech that the "Seeds of Hope" programme is the branch's very first attempt at providing bursaries for students. Mr Liu added that with volunteers visiting close to 3000 families and a monthly estimation of over $120,000 needed for the bursaries, the programme would not be a success without strong support from the general public as well as the school management team for giving their full cooperation during the volunteers' visits to the schools.
Tzu Chi Singapore and its volunteers will continue their care in the future so that the student's families can slowly get back on their feet.
Tzu Chi emphasizes respect and gratitude in all of its activities. Picture shows Tzu Chi commissioners and students bowing to each other during the presentation. (Photo by O Kok Kin)
Parents and students enjoying the programmes preceding the presentation. The three sessions over two days saw more than 3000 parents, students, and school representatives attending. (Photo by Law Sook Fong)
Students showing their coupons, book vouchers and gifts happily. (Photo by O Kok Kin)
Volunteers visiting Abdul Rashid's family to find out more about their needs. Tzu Chi now provides living assistance to the family aside from the bursary to their children. (Photo by Law Sook Fong)
Ms Rahmatunnisa Abdul Majeed, representative of Muhammadiyah Welfare Home, giving her speech at the ceremony. (Photo by O Kok Kin)
Like Nur Illya (pictured), many students shared the sentiment that even though they are needy, they could still help others by saving up bit by bit. (Photo by Khoo Chai Ling)
Ms Frieda Leong, the Head of Canberra Secondary School's Pupil Welfare Department, went on stage with her daughter to turn in the coin bank that the family had saved for six months. Receiving the contribution was Mr David Liu, CEO of Tzu Chi Singapore. (Photo by O Kok Kin)
Members of the Teenagers’ Class presented a sign language performance to the song “I'm Blessed” that sings the praises of gratitude. (Photo by Lai Tong Heng)
Volunteers were stationed along the routes from the two nearest MRT stations - Chinatown and Outram Park - to the theatre itself to provide guidance to the parents and students. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
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