Laughter rings through the colorful campus of Escuela Tzu Chi Oriente under the bright sun in Palencia, Guatemala. Celebrating 15 years since its establishment, the school serves as both an educational institution and a warm home where transnational bonds are formed and nurtured between Taiwan and Guatemala.
Learning empathy through play
On October 1, 2025, Guatemala celebrated Children’s Day. Volunteers Deisy Delgado and Sheyla Valencia spent the sunny morning playing fun team-building games with 145 students at the school.
LEFT: Volunteers Deisy Delgado (left) and Sheyla Valencia (right) design a fun game for the students. RIGHT: Volunteer Deisy explains the rules to the children. | Photos: Laura Wu
"Pay attention, everyone! This is not just a competition; it is also a test of your teamwork," Deisy told the middle-grade students, holding up a small plastic ball.
The game required two students to carefully carry the small ball between their arms without letting it slip. For the older students, the challenge was increased to carrying the ball back-to-back. The classmates watching held their breath before erupting into cheers, encouraging their peers to walk slowly and stay calm.
LEFT: The ball-passing game requires mutual cooperation to complete the course. RIGHT: Students are delighted with their new mini-fan prizes. | Photos: Laura Wu
During the game, dropping the ball was no longer seen as a failure, but rather an opportunity to coordinate better on the next try. The winning students held their prizes with faces full of accomplishment, noting that the game was difficult but highly rewarding.
During a break, a sixth-grader named Javier stood among his peers with a mature demeanor. When asked what he had learned during his Jing Si Aphorism classes, he responded clearly.
I remember very clearly that there is an aphorism about having empathy, being friendly, and helping others. It taught me that when someone else is sad, I can be the hand that supports them. — Javier, Sixth-grade Student
Following this, a student named Sofía thanked the volunteers on behalf of her classmates, expressing their deep gratitude for the continuous care they received. The volunteers presented the children with Great Love charms, which the students wore proudly.
Providing rest for a working student
After the Children's Day activities concluded, the volunteers traveled to the home of 15-year-old Luis Andrés Caal. Luis works part-time to help support his family, and their living conditions are quite basic.
When the volunteers arrived carrying two of Tzu Chi's multi-purpose foldable beds, Luis’s mother and aunt looked on in surprise. Deisy patiently demonstrated how to use them.
"Luis, you can fold it up like this to save space, and when you open it, your family can get a good rest," Deisy explained.
Luis touched the surface of the bed, visibly moved by the delivery. The beds improved their physical living space while delivering a tangible sense of care to the hardworking family.
A new chapter begins
On December 3, the campus was beautifully decorated by the teachers in preparation for a major milestone. A total of 17 kindergarteners and 17 sixth-graders were preparing to graduate and enter the next stage of their lives.
LEFT: The graduation ceremony commences at the school. RIGHT: Volunteer Jasmine Chang presents a gift to each graduate. | Photos: Laura Wu
Javier and Sofía carried the Tzu Chi flag and the Guatemalan flag, respectively, slowly walking into the venue as the national anthem played. Principal María Guadalupe Macario de la Rosa took a moment to reflect on the school's journey.
Tzu Chi has not only helped us build classrooms and provided uniforms, but also gave the children Jing Si Aphorisms that will benefit them for a lifetime.— María Guadalupe Macario de la Rosa, Principal
During the ceremony, the graduates took turns going on stage to share the quotes that had influenced them the most. Some spoke of making great vows and being firm in their resolve, while others shared the importance of lighting one's own heart before lighting the hearts of others.
LEFT: A graduate shares a favorite quote about having great vows and a firm resolve. RIGHT: Another graduate shares the importance of lighting one's own heart first. | Photos: Laura Wu
Jasmine Chang, the volunteer in charge of the Guatemala chapter, represented Tzu Chi in presenting a watch to each graduate, symbolizing the importance of cherishing time. Suddenly, a sixth-grade graduate took the microphone and bowed deeply to the volunteers and teachers.
"Thank you. I will never forget everything I learned here," the student said. In the audience, mothers wiped tears from their eyes as they hugged their children.
Over the past 15 years, Escuela Tzu Chi Oriente has fostered the growth of many students through consistent care and education. As the graduates walked out of the school gates with their new watches and Jing Si aphorism cards, they carried with them the practical tools and inner strength needed to illuminate their own paths forward.
Written by Laura Wu (吳慈恬), Hsiang-Hui Huang (黃湘卉)
