The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.114).

TZU CHI 114 15 join the volunteers in helping children from underprivileged families. She was moved by the volunteers’ compassionate spirit that transcends colour and creed to serve as a tutor in Tzu Chi’s tuition programme. Mallika expressed notable concern for her students, who are raised in troubled homes, deprived of affection and lack parental guidance. She stressed the urgency of imparting the positive values of diligence and kindness to the students, lest they wander astray from the path to a promising future that lies ahead of them. “My two children have grown up and are residing away from home, while my husband is busy with his career. My post-retirement plans were to continue with volunteer work, including the Tzu Chi tuition programme and to spend more time on my personal growth. I’m extremely grateful to my other volunteer tutors who share my passion. They obliged without any reluctance when asked to be tutors for the tuition programme. Kanga Devi, Latha, Mona, Nirmala, Sundari, Vimala and Vilashini make up the current team of regular tutors. Kanga Devi joined as a volunteer tutor at the same time as I did. We’ve been teaching there for five years now,” mused Mallika. Volunteering for the tuition programme not only granted Mallika the opportunity to serve the community, but has also proven that life does not end at retirement; rather, it is a transitional phase that potentially opens up a new chapter in life. She derives satisfaction from her post-retirement teaching stint by serving a beneficial cause in lieu of a monthly salary. Upon gaining her family’s approval, Mallika started committing herself to the tuition programme, embarking on a new journey in her teaching career by offering both academic and emotional support to her young charges. Creating a loving environment Tzu Chi’s tuition programme was initiated with the objective of offering a balanced mix of academic mentoring and character-building components. The students look up to Mallika as an exemplary teacher for her gentle and sympathetic demeanour. “The students grew up in unfavourable home environments and are exposed to negative attitudes. These factors will adversely affect their overall development in the long run,” reasoned Mallika. In other words, the ideal home environment is a wholesome one that facilitates open communication and quality interaction. However, untoward circumstances might distort the relationship dynamics between family members andundermine ahappyhome, leaving the children lost and confused in a household on the verge of falling apart. When young, impressionable souls are deprived of a loving, harmonious family and are confronted with daily scenarios of domestic violence both verbally and physically, fear takes root in their hearts, leading to a vicious cycle of aggression and trauma. “The tuition programme serves to not only help the students overcome any difficulties faced in their studies, but also to provide adequate emotional support as emotional maturity is a prerequisiteof appropriatebehaviour andconduct. The students’ fundamental grasp of academic subjects is essentially weak, hence we support them in their studies to ensure that they are able to catch up with their peers. We also make them aware of their weaknesses and encourage them to improve themselves to enhance their competitive edge,” Mallika explained. Our Classroom, Our Second Home, Our Sanctuary