
It was the sixth time that members of the Tzu Chi Collegiate attended the U.N. event, which opened on August 3. Of the total of 37, eight participated in the opening at the U.N. building, while others visited the Red Cross and disaster relief organizations in New York. Six went to South Africa to take part in activities to help children. For everyone, it was an excellent learning experience, full of surprises. They participated in classes, spoke to a wide variety of people and took the opportunity to promote the humanistic ideals of the foundation.
The opening ceremony was held at 9.30 a.m. on August 3 in a conference hall seating 600 people. The Tzu Chi Collegiate was the only organization dressed in uniform, of blue and white. As the other attendees sat down, the Tzu Chi members stood up, forming a light blue ribbon that caught the eye. Condoleezza Rice, the U.N. representative from the U.S. gave a brief and insightful speech in language that the young people could easily understand. Then a screen in the hall showed the closing speech of Ban Ki-moon, Secretary–General of the U.N., at the U.N. Security Council one week earlier. In the past, the council did not discuss the topic of young people; but this time Ban not only mentioned them but also twice paused for a while when he passed the main assembly hall.

The young Tzu Chi members lost no chance to learn. After each speech, they were encouraged by other Tzu Chi volunteers to interact with the speaker and ask searching questions. They also took the opportunity to introduce the foundation. One of their groups had the chance to interview the chairman of the assembly, Patrick Sciarratt. He had a very good impression about Tzu Chi and fully supported the young people in hosting a seminar.
The lunch period was a very important time for the Tzu Chi young people to interact with the other participants from around the world. Every day, the Tzu Chi chapter from Chinatown, New York prepared vegetarian lunch boxes and delivered them to the UN assembly in order for the young volunteers to eat and interact with the others. Some of them generously shared their lunch boxes with the others.

Translated by Kay Taso
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