Everything from protecting the earth to doing good for humankind, begins with ourselves~ Jing Si Aphorism by Master Cheng Yen.

Children and teachers of Grade 7 were seen singing their hearts out while moving their hands following hand gestures for the sign language taught by Tzu Chi volunteers. November 6, 2019 marked the start of Tzu Shao—Tzu Chi’s own version of boy scout, which focuses on teaching Tzu Chi core principles of gratitude, respect, and love and developing adolescent’s maturity.

Tzu Shao is soon to be held regularly at Tzu Chi School. On this occasion, Tzu Chi students were also given the opportunity to pour their bamboo banks as a means of gratitude and to show their efforts to help the people in need.

The Tzu Shao was initiated by Master Cheng Yen, based on the fact that there are a lot of troubled teenagers. In a hope to guide these teenagers towards the right path, Tzu Shao will be held once every month to help students understand how to apply Tzu Chi values in their everyday lives.

Ms Riswita Situmorang, Tzu Chi Secondary Teacher, “I can see how Tzu Shao has a very good mission, if the programme can be presented nicely and be adjusted to the current development, it will certainly bring many benefits to children. Forming good characters takes time, but if Tzu Shao can be consistent with its mission, it can certainly bring very positive changes to young people”. 

The information on Tzu Shao was followed by two brief presentations on environment protection and recycling activities by Mr Theophilus Wusu Gowu, Tzu Chi Secondary Science DP Teacher and Ms Ira, a Tzu Chi volunteer.

Service as Action: To Walk the Talk

On this sunny Wednesday, our Grade 7 students also took the opportunity to complete their SA (Service as Action) at Tzu Chi Center Recycling Depot. This activity allows students to not only discuss and talk about recycling, but to actually experienced hands-on practise on recycling activity. Our Grade 7 students worked together to sort out plastic and paper waste at the depot, guided by Mr Thomas, Tzu Chi volunteer.

Ms Situmorang added that it was such a joyful experience to see children working hand-in-hand in sorting plastic bottles based on its type. “Students learn how to work as a team and realise that, these aren’t easy job to do so they can appreciate this more”

The three Tzu Chi’s core values are taught every week in the humanistic class (Ren Wen), and one of which, emphasise on discussion about environmental act. Hillary Lim, from 7 Compassion who was sorting out paper based on each colour, express her excitement since this was her first time doing such activity, ‘It feels like we’re finally practicing what we learned in Ren Wen class, we talk about recycling, now we’re doing it! It is very important for us to do this”

Another student, Graciela Tamnerton, 7 Love said that sorting out trash in the depot was not an easy task. “It was tiring, but it really shows us a message that we humans use a lot of trash, trash can pollute the world if we don’t recycle”

Graciela also has been trying to conserve the environment herself by using less plastic bags, “I am hoping through this activity, we are actually helping to make the world a better place”

Such activities were enjoyed by students and were supported by helpful and beloved teachers. One of the homeroom tutors for Grade 7, Mr Alex Emanoff, expressed his gratitude for this opportunity to be able to service at the Recycling Depot, “It is my belief that by instilling this duty and responsibility at a young age, students will consider the environmental consequences of their actions regardless of what position they obtain in their professional careers”

However, Mr Emanoff also said, there are a lot of other ways to instill students to care more for the environment, one of his suggestions were, “To carry out a session where students learn tips and strategies to help them build recycling habits which they can carry out on a day-to-day basis. For example, informing students about the locations of different recycling facilities and recycling services offered to the public around the city. A focus on developing better recycling habits will promote the act of recycling in a much more practical way”

As an IB learner, completing Service as Action provides the opportunity of learning by doing and experiencing and where IB learners strive to be caring members of the local and global community through doing service.