Tzu Chi volunteers took relief goods and school supplies to E Thewbein Children Care, an orphanage in Capetown which the volunteers regularly visit, on January 11.
Volunteer Zhang Shun-ming (張舜明) told the children that the goods were either donated by kind-hearted people or purchased with money donated to Tzu Chi. He encouraged them to make good use of the supplies and to study hard as a way to repay the donors for their goodwill. He also let the children know that the volunteers were grateful for the chance to help them, and they hoped that someday when the children grew up, they would also reach out to help the underprivileged.
The school supplies volunteers prepared for the children included notebooks, file folders, calculators, protractors, pencils, pens, pencil sharpeners, rulers, colored pens, and glue. After receiving their share of the supplies, many orphans broke into shy smiles which warmed the volunteers’ hearts. Volunteers also brought a cake to celebrate the new year with the children.
Source: Tzu Chi Quarterly Spring 2009
