The St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation helped spread cheer on Sunday, May 10, when it held its annual triple celebration of Mother’s Day, Tzu Chi Day and Buddha’s Birthday.
During the ceremony, held at Tzu Chi’s location on L.B. Scott Road, Tzu Chi helped persons in need by donating relief items to a total of 100 families. The 49 volunteers who participated in the exercise put their best foot forward to keep the 161 guests in attendance engaged during the event.
The triple celebration was preceded by a tour of the various sections at Tzu Chi Foundation. Guests who arrived between 3:00pm to 4:00pm were taken on a guided tour of the Tzu Chi Foundation office, Tzu Chi’s Recycled Room, the All Children’s Education (ACE) pilot humanitarian kindergarten school.
In the pilot school guests were given an insight into the programmes conducted at the school. In the Tzu Chi office they were given information about Tzu Chi, its founder, principles and activities. Tzu Chi’s work in St. Maarten and around the world was also shared with persons who received the tour.
Information about Tzu Chi’s recycled activities was given to guests who toured the Recycled Room. Guests also got to see some of the clothing and other material that Tzu Chi makes using recycled items. Guests were also treated to veggie ice cream. They also cooled down with homemade basil lemonade tea prepared by volunteer Denicio Wyatt. Wyatt also gave information about Spaceless Gardens and Tzu Chi’s garden recycle project.
The triple celebration opened with a performance of the “Love and Care” sign language song. Guests were asked to join in the performance and emulate volunteers Bradyl Attyl and Yamile Bastidas as they performed.
A recipient of Tzu Chi aid and a volunteer shared their experiences with the foundation with attendees. Angela Ambrose, who did one of the sharing, had been a recipient for many years and has received assistance from Tzu Chi for rent, medical care and food.
Wyatte also spoke about his garden recycle initiative with Tzu Chi. Information was also given about the benefit veggie ice cream.
For the Mother’s Day part of the ceremony, several mothers had their feet lovingly washed by their children, spouses or other family members.
The Buddha Day part of the ceremony featured volunteers and guests paying their respect by sharing blessings in the form of light, water and flower.
Volunteers and other persons with Tzu Chi bamboo banks (donation boxes) also had a chance to return the donations placed in the boxes during the Bamboo Bank Return ceremony. A total of US $1,469 was collected from this exercise and all will be donated to victims of the devastating earthquakes in Nepal.
The curtains closed on the programme with the distribution of relief items to 100 families in need. The relief packages contained rice, flour, cooking oil, cereal and beans.
In addition to volunteers, St. Maarten Development Foundation executive Keith Franca and representatives of Key to Freedom assisted in handing over the relief packages.
After the official part of the ceremony, guests enjoyed a range of vegetarian delicacies and fresh beverages.
As a token of appreciation to mother earth, mothers in attendance at the ceremony were given a complimentary plant to take home to nurture for its growth. Thanks to sponsorship from SMDF, a Mother’s Day cake and gift were also presented to guests upon leaving.
Franca said SMDF had been “exceptionally proud” to have supported the Mother’s Day celebration. “The well packaged and nicely presented gifts and cake by the volunteers which included Tzu Chi members as well as volunteers from the Key to Freedom Foundation added a wonderful dimension to volunteerism,” Franca said. “Judging from our observation, the event was well organised… We witnessed great satisfaction from the over 120 persons and families in attendance as well as their satisfaction for the buffet served by the Tzu Chi volunteers… I was truly impressed,” Franca added
Volunteer Margaret Steeman said the event had been a “fulfilling and satisfying” experience for her.
Volunteer Roger Yee-Fong, who experienced the event for the first time, said he felt a sense of accomplishment to have been involved in the celebrations and to experience the commitment and loyalty of volunteers.
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