L.B. SCOT ROAD:--- The St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation honoured mothers, highlighted their strengths and pampered them with love and care during a well-attended entertaining and informative triple celebration at the Foundation's L.B. Scot Road office on Sunday.
A touching part of the programme was the emotional testimony by one of Tzu Chi's long-time recipients Mary Simon, who close to tears, told the audience how grateful she was for Tzu Chi's monthly food assistance and the other forms of aid for her family. Simon, who has seven children, four of whom resides with her St. Maarten, she never got the opportunity to attend school, but thanks to Tzu Chi some of her children have been given an opportunity to be educated. The children can say their alphabet, count and are now helping her to learn things she never learnt when she was their age.
The event was the celebration of Mother's Day, Tzu Chi anniversary and Buddha Day – an annual staple on the Tzu Chi calendar.
The curtains raised on the afternoon celebration with All Children's Education (ACE) Foundation teachers doing a music rendition of Boyz II Men song "Mama" for mothers in attendance. Other performances included a rendition of the song "Smiling Sun" by teachers and pupils; the recital of Jing Si Aphorisms by pupils and the performance of the Kneeling Lamb.
The highlight of the Mother's Day celebration was the loving washing of the feet of a number of mothers by their children.
Volunteer Mercedes de Windt also provided information about the importance of all mothers including those in the animal kingdom. Tzu Chi told members of the audience that Mother's Day was a day to honour mothers and parents in general. "It reminds us to be good to them and to be respectful by caring for them and giving them our love, respect and appreciation," the capacity audience was told.
A host of information was provided to attendees during the part of the programme focusing on Tzu Chi's 48th anniversary. Volunteers Gary Yee-Fong and Ferdinand Odono spoke about the gardening and recycling initiative that the foundation will be embarking on at All Children's Education Foundation (ACE). The project involves the use of recyclable materials such as used plastic bottles and wooden pallets to create a space-saving kitchen garden to teach youngsters the importance of combining recycled materials to grow their own food.
Information was also provided on the environmental effects of rearing animals for human consumption in a presentation by pupils and teachers entitled "Meatrix." A brief video to this effect was also shown.
Volunteer Mercedes de Windt did a demonstration on how members of the audience can make their own citrus household cleaners using everyday items such as orange and lime peels and vinegar.
Teacher Charles Stay prepared a power point presentation and shared information he had researched on the internet about the positive benefits of water to the body.
A "Bamboo Bank Return" ceremony was also held where volunteers and members of the audience got a chance to return their Tzu Chi bamboo banks (donation containers) and donate whatever amounts they can afford to the foundation. A total of US $654 was collected.
Tzu Chi volunteers and members of the audience also participated in the Buddha Day Ceremony in which light (wisdom), water (purity) and flower (good karma) were offered to inspire people to be grateful to all living beings.
The curtains closed on the programme with Tzu Chi volunteers providing relief packages of rice, oil and peas to a number of persons in the community who are in need. Attendees who were mothers were also presented with gifts of appreciation on departure.
During the ceremony Tzu Chi treated its guests to healthy eggless cupcakes and freshly blended fruit and vegetable juice to attendees.
Tzu Chi thanked all its volunteers, teachers, parents, pupils, recipient and invited guests for making the programme a success.
