By Pi-O Kuo | India 

In India, many underprivileged families struggle to afford extra tutoring for their children. In 2023, Tzu Chi arrived in Bodh Gaya and, after visiting homes in Ganga Bigha village, decided to help the children with their studies, focusing on their weakest subjects: English and math. In a small classroom in the village, Tzu Chi volunteers tutor the children five days a week, with around thirty children attending each day. 

Orderly Preparation for Class 

To improve the learning environment and enhance the quality of the classes, ceiling fans were installed in the classroom in June this year. Despite the high temperatures of the summer and frequent power outages, the fans are still crucial. The fans start and stop intermittently, a common occurrence for the children, but overseas volunteers would often exclaim, “The power’s out again!” 

On the afternoon of July 25, local volunteer Upendra Kumar arrived at the classroom. The children followed, politely greeting the teacher, then some picked up brooms to sweep the floor while others laid out mats. Once everything was ready, they sat down in an orderly manner for the class. Such discipline is quite special in India. 

Before the class began, the teacher checked the students’ nails. Latecomers would stretch out their hands for the teacher to inspect their nails, a sweet gesture that created an interesting scene. Life education is also a key focus of the tutoring program, aiming to instill good hygiene habits in the children from a young age. In this region, it is traditional to eat with the right hand, making hand cleanliness even more important. 

Home Visits to Care for Children 

On this day, third-grader Sandhya arrived on time for class. After the class started, her sister Nandani Kumari entered the classroom. She first approached volunteer Hui-fang Li, who was wearing a Tzu Chi uniform, and hugged her, expressing her gratitude. Only after this did she sit down for class. 

Today’s lesson was on vegetarian rainbow meals. Upendra used colors to help the children identify foods, teaching them the English names of the foods and explaining the nutritional benefits of various colorful foods. Vegetarian food is rich in nutrients. 

After class, volunteers Hui Lee Cheok, Upendra, Mun Fei Yong, and Pi-O Kuo visited a student’s home. As they were leaving, they saw Sandhya teaching a little girl named Rimjhim to write English letters. Rimjhim, a second grader, was being watched by her mother, who was holding a baby. They were sitting on a grass mat on the ground, writing. 

The homes in this area are very small, with only one bed and no other furniture. At night, the bed is moved outside, and they sleep outdoors. The cooking stove is very low, about fifty centimeters high, and the women squat in front of it to cook, developing strong leg muscles from squatting. The children do not have desks; they do their homework sitting on the ground, with their notebooks on the floor, bending over to write. 

Budding Bodhi Saplings 

When Sandhya saw her tutoring class teachers Hui Lee Cheok and Upendra, she smiled shyly. Rimjhim’s mother explained that since her daughter couldn’t write English letters, she asked Sandhya, who was playing nearby, to teach her daughter. Sandhya had been teaching her for three days. 

Sandhya happily told the teachers that she hopes to become a teacher in the future. She also mentioned that Master Cheng Yen helps all the poor people by distributing food supplies. “I want to be like Master Cheng Yen, helping everyone. I will continue to teach my classmates English. I want to say, ‘Thank you, Master Cheng Yen!’” 

In a joyful encounter, the education team asked Rimjhim if she had thanked her “little teacher.” Rimjhim smiled. Sandhya then taught Rimjhim the sign language for “gratitude” that she had learned in the tutoring class. She extended her hands, gently made fists, and moved her thumbs up and down, saying in Chinese, “Gratitude! Gratitude! Infinite gratitude! Thank you, Master! Thank you, teacher! Thank you, classmates!” 

The two little girls, pure and adorable, sang and bowed, and everyone joined in, expressing their gratitude with sign language. Hui Lee Cheok then led everyone in thanking Rimjhim’s mother. 

Seeing these young sprouts beginning to grow, Hui Lee Cheok felt very gratified, believing that their efforts were worthwhile. She looks forward to seeing them grow stronger and flourish. 

Transformation After Tutoring 

On the evening of July 29, local volunteer Namrata Kumari came to teach the children English. Sandhya and her sister Nandani arrived a bit late. As soon as they entered the classroom, Nandani hugged each volunteer before sitting down for the class. 

That day, the lower-grade English class had already ended by the time the sisters arrived. Sandhya quickly took out her paper and pen and copied the notes. Lower-grade students could leave early, but the volunteers asked Sandhya to stay and accompany them for a home visit. 

During the upper-grade class, the English written on the blackboard by Teacher Namrata was too advanced for Sandhya. She initially tried to copy it but gave up. However, Sandhya’s comprehension was high; after the teacher’s explanation, she understood and took out her notebook to copy the notes. 

After class, the volunteers walked home with the two sisters. Wearing their school uniforms, the sisters quietly led the way, occasionally turning back to smile at the volunteers. Along the way, many women squatted by the roadside, watching curiously. Some smiled and greeted the volunteers, while most stared with wide eyes. Many children playing nearby saw the volunteers in their blue and white uniforms and ran over to follow them, accompanying them all the way to Sandhya’s home. 

Upon arrival, the parents came out to greet the volunteers. The sisters changed out of their uniforms and took the dinner their mother had prepared, which looked like mushroom fried rice. They sat on the floor of the room, eating with their hands. After dinner, the sisters divided the chores. Nandani cleaned the inside room and then climbed onto the bed to do her homework. Sandhya swept the outer hall and cleaned the alley in front of the house before taking out the trash. She then returned to the room and sat beside her sister, and the two did their homework together. 

Watching the sisters do their homework, their father smiled and said that since his daughters started attending Tzu Chi’s tutoring class, they have become very diligent. Now, doing household chores has become part of their daily routine, finishing their chores and homework before going out to play. 

The father spoke enthusiastically about Tzu Chi. He said that a year ago, Tzu Chi came for the first time to distribute aid. The second time, they conducted health checks for the villagers and brought bamboo banks, teaching them to cherish blessings and create blessings, and to help others if they could. The third time, the volunteers invited his children to attend the tutoring class. 

Since attending the tutoring class, the children have undergone a significant transformation. They used to be very unmotivated, disliked studying, and refused to help with household chores, even describing them as “lazy.” He is very happy that the tutoring class has brought such a positive change in his children. 

Multifaceted Assistance Felt by Villagers 

Bodh Gaya, the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment, attracts many pilgrims and tourists from around the world. Many tourists donate to the villagers, but like flowing water, they leave and never return. However, Tzu Chi’s continuous assistance stands out. The volunteers return time and again, teaching the villagers many principles and methods. 

Sandhya’s father believes that Master Cheng Yen is very good at teaching children. He now watches Master Cheng Yen’s daily talk, “Life Wisdom” every day.  

Tzu Chi’s assistance in Bodh Gaya encompasses charity, medical care, education, and humanistic culture. The charity team continuously receives new cases and tirelessly cares for the villagers. The medical team conducts health checks, advises against alcohol, and distributes beans or milk to underweight villagers, walking through the villages for their health. The education team teaches Jing Si aphorisms in schools, instilling right knowledge and mindfulness from a young age, and offers computer, English, and sewing classes to enhance the villagers’ competitiveness. 

With all this support, the villagers not only feel grateful, but they have also learned the spirit of helping others from the volunteers. One day, they will stand on their own, making the Buddha’s homeland a prosperous and altruistic world. 

Note: The little girl, Rimjhim, also joined the tutoring class on August 9.