August 28, 2024
Sparks ignited at 2024 Tzu Chi Youth Camp
By Joy Rojas
Ninety youth in their teens and 20s opened themselves to the opportunity of volunteerism, environmental protection, filial piety, and vegetarianism in Tzu Chi’s 2024 Youth Camp, held from August 23 to 25 at the Buddhist Tzu Chi Campus (BTCC) in Sta. Mesa, Manila. The annual weekend event involved the time and efforts of over a hundred Tzu Chi volunteers and Tzu Chi Youth members.
To address a generation that communicates largely through gadgets and social media, youth camp organizers picked a theme and tasks that encouraged participation to face-to-face interactions.
The camp theme, “Ignite Your Spark: From Courage to Impact,” hopes to bring the shy and introverted out of their shell. “We’re tapping into their courage, helping them get out of their comfort zone, and meet new people,” says 2024 Youth Camp Head Kylie Francisco.
Over the weekend, campers used their hands and expressed their thoughts and feelings. An introduction to Tzu Chi etiquette taught them the proper way to sit, stand, and conduct themselves during a meal. To familiarize themselves with BTCC, they identified the upcycled and recycled features of the Tzu Chi Café, built a Jenga tower next to the Jing Si Abode, played a game by the Lotus Pond, and hand-designed T-shirts inside the Jing Si Hall. To better appreciate plant-based food, they shredded oyster mushroom and cooked it in a barbecue sauce as instructed by Taiwanese vegetarian Martina Yeh. Camp participants also baked vegetarian bread, made enzyme cleanser from scratch, and assembled gift bags out of the pages of discarded magazines.
Tears were shed after a talk on filial piety ended with them writing a letter to their parents. At the camp’s closing ceremony, they allowed themselves to be vulnerable when they spoke about the most impactful activities.
This year’s youth camp participants ranged from those who had never heard of Tzu Chi before to those with Tzu Chi volunteers in their family.
Larmer Ace S. Villanueva learned about the camp through his principal at Tabaco Pei Ching School in Tabaco City, Albay. “I said, why not? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” says the Grade 11 STEM student. His first camp experience is a pleasant one: He made a bunch of friends and immediately felt the hospitality of volunteers. “I was here so early and they just approached me with a big smile. Thank you for your support!”
Hairhea Allama was also introduced to Tzu Chi at school when Tzu Chi volunteer Dhing Abdulaup conducted a seminar on community service. Despite the new and unfamiliar practices of Tzu Chi culture—from bowing before Buddha and eating plant-based meals—the BS major in Entrepreneurship from Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University had a great time. “I want to help people too, so I decided to join.”
The son of Tzu Chi Davao commissioner Michelle Hsu, Terrence Hsu has volunteered with the foundation before, most recently in its medical mission in Davao. “What attracted me to volunteer work with Tzu Chi is seeing the smiles and bright faces of people when they receive support and help,” says the senior high school student from Ateneo de Davao University. “Every time I volunteer, I hear new stories about people’s lives and how they’re very thankful for the help.”
“I grew up in a Tzu Chi family,” says Aldrich Keh, grandson of Tzu Chi volunteer Conchita Tan. As such, the desire to help runs in the blood of this Grade 10 student from Ivy Collegiate Academy in Taichung. Though he plans to be a Tzu Ching (Tzu Chi Youth) in Taiwan, he intends to volunteer in the Philippines “whenever they need me. Being a volunteer makes me happy,” he says. “By doing good deeds, it makes my mental health better.”
Besides new friends and fun memories, the youth camp leaves participants with values that hopefully stay with them for life. When he joined Tzu Chi’s youth camp in 2010, Albert Briongos struggled to fit in with the foundation’s unique culture and practices.
Now a biology teacher in a public school in Novaliches, he bows before his students before starting class “as a sign of respect and gratitude for teaching me to be patient and grow in my career.” A regular resource speaker on the topic of filial piety, he ends each phone call to his parents with an “I love you.”
“It widened my world, gave me a new perspective, and taught me to be mindful,” says Briongos of his youth camp experience. “It gave me the kind of learnings that I wouldn’t get in a classroom.”
This year’s Tzu Chi Youth Camp participants are joined by Tzu Chi volunteers and Tzu Chi Youth for a traditional group photo outside the Jing Si Hall.
From Tzu Chi Youth to Tzu Chi commissioner, Kinlon Fan volunteers as a host and resource speaker at Tzu Chi Youth Camps. Here, he discusses Tzu Chi etiquette.
Albert Briongos may have a life outside of Tzu Chi but the biology teacher at a public school in Novaliches makes time to volunteer at Tzu Chi Youth Camps. A former Tzu Chi scholar and Tzu Chi Youth member, he draws on personal experience in his talk on filial piety.
Tzu Chi Program Officer Lineth Brondial encourages participants to find solutions to environmental issues in her talk “Be an Agent of Change: Exploring Climate Action.”
Tzu Chi Youth Jenny Chua (left) presents a certificate of appreciation to Tzu Chi Philippines Deputy CEO Peggy Sy-Jiang for her talk “Buddhism in Action.”
Participants try to earn points for their respective teams in a live demonstration of eating Tzu Chi style.
Participants shred an oyster mushroom before they stir-fry it in barbecue sauce. This simple plant-based recipe was taught to them by long-time vegetarian Martina Yeh.
In the spirit of team work, participants help each other make a Jenga tower.
Inside the Jing Si Hall, groups are given plain T-shirts and colorful markers to design their shirts as they please.
Just before bedtime, participants enjoy a sharing session in an intimate candle-lit setting in the popular activity, “Starry, Starry Night.”
Youth camp participants are taught how to mix enzyme cleanser with calamansi as one of the main ingredients.
A Tzu Chi volunteer teaches a youth camp participant how to turn the pages of a discarded magazine into a gift bag.
Youth camp participants sort through used bottles and other discarded plastics in the recycling area.
Tzu Chi culture may be new to the Muslim Hairhea Allama, but this BS major in Entrepreneurship from Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University is keen on volunteering.
When he learned about Tzu Chi’s Youth Camp through his school principal, Larmer Ace S. Villanueva, a Grade 11 STEM student from Tabaco Pei Ching School, jumped at the chance of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
A volunteer comforts a participant when she is moved to tears during a talk on filial piety.
Alstein Lim (first from left) and Dan Perez (first from right) are recognized by Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez and volunteer Sally Yuñez with a Star Volunteer Award for their participation in Tzu Chi activities. Alstein led the Mother's Day fundraising efforts in May, Dan led the tree-planting project this month.
Tzu Chi Youth camp groups take turns performing on stage for Gratitude Night.
Tzu Chi Youth and volunteers pose for a photo with birthday celebrant, volunteer Pacita Letran.
Putting together a youth camp is difficult, admits Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez. “But it’s worth it. If one of the 90 participants changes into a better person, it’s worth it.”
After two days of being away from each other, youth camp participants and their parents, guardians, and siblings are reunited at the Jing Si Hall.
Tzu Chi 2024 Youth Camp Head Kylie Francisco (in Tzu Chi Youth uniform) leads Tzu Chi Youth, volunteers, camp participants, and their families in the spirited song and dance “Pulling the Ox Cart.”