Story by Phanny Yang | New Jersey, USA

Under the patient guidance of their teacher, students and volunteers diligently crafted each lantern. | Photo courtesy of Tong-Chang Lee

To spread Tzu Chi’s spirit of compassion and love, 25 members of the Tzu Chi Academy Pittsburgh, including teachers, parents, volunteers, and students, visited the Mt. Lebanon Rehabilitation and Wellness Center on the afternoon of May 19, following the school's graduation ceremony. The visit served to bring warmth and joy to the elderly residents and to teach the younger generation the joy of giving with gratitude and care.

LEFT: Before the event, students went to each room to help bring the seniors to the activity area. RIGHT: Mu Yuan (center) may be little, but she still reached out with her little hands to help the elderly. | Photos courtesy of Fu-Chiang Tsui | 2024/05/19

Melodious Tunes and Joyful Surprises

LEFT: Art teacher Yue-Fang Chang guided the seniors in making lanterns. RIGHT: Volunteers and parents assisted the seniors with lantern making. | Photos courtesy of Tong-Chang Lee

The event officially began at 2 PM. First, the academy’s art teacher, Yue-Fang Chang (張煜芳), guided everyone in making traditional Chinese lanterns. With the teacher's patient instruction, the students and volunteers poured their hearts into crafting each lantern, which they then presented to the elderly residents as symbols of light and hope. These lanterns, beautiful and filled with the students' well wishes, made the seniors feel cherished.

Four-year-old Mu Yuan (牧遠) eagerly helped whenever he saw seniors in need, offering her small hand to steady them. Despite her young age, she was dedicated to making the lanterns.

LEFT: Student Eason Hsu (center) performing an exciting diabolo act. RIGHT: Despite being only 4 years old, Mu Yuan was determined to help make the lanterns. | Photos courtesy of Da-li Li

Next, Eason Hsu impressed everyone with a diabolo (Chinese yo-yo) performance. The diabolo spun nimbly in his hands, perfectly synchronized with lively music, bringing endless surprise and joy to the seniors. Additionally, Bo-wen Han (韓博文) performed a piano solo of "The Four Seasons," with his beautiful melodies resonating through the senior home, evoking the beauty of nature and the passage of time.

Bringing Love and Warmth

Following the performances, the school's string ensemble played several moving pieces for the seniors. They started with the Tzu Chi song "Aspirations", a song full of compassion and love that deeply touched everyone present. They then performed "Little Symphony" and the Taiwanese folk song "Red in All Four Seasons," with the melodies transporting everyone back to a simpler, more beautiful time.

The school's string ensemble played for the seniors. | Photo courtesy of Dali Li

Throughout the visit, the seniors' faces beamed with happiness. The event was not only enriching to them but also allowed the students to experience the joy and fulfillment of giving. By interacting with the seniors, the students gained a deeper understanding of the importance of respecting and caring for the elderly, fostering compassion and a sense of social responsibility.

The visit concluded in a warm and harmonious atmosphere. Gratitude was extended to the volunteers for their hard work, the students for their wonderful performances, and the seniors for their support and participation. This visit not only made the residents feel loved by the community but also vividly exemplified the spirit of Tzu Chi. We hope for more opportunities to involve more people in the future to care for the elderly and bring more love and warmth into society.