The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.114).

TZU CHI 114 07 “I ’m poor at Bahasa Malaysia and English, but my favourite subjects are History and English. I aim to study hard and improve my performance in subjects I’mweak in,” declared Kavittha a/p Gobi, a soft-spoken 17-year-old with flowing, jet-black tresses. The eldest of five siblings has been adopted as a care recipient years ago and remains resolute in her ambitions despite having to deal with a broken home and adversities in life. Her father worked as an electrician but was later retrenched, while her mother, a victim of domestic violence, walked out on the family. Three years ago, volunteers started visiting Kavittha’s home to provide care and introduced her and her siblings to the Taman Sentosa tuition programme. Arun a/l Jagathisan lives in the same neighbourhood as Kavittha, yet their backgrounds areworlds apart. “During lessons, we are taught to help others, be mindful of our speech and keep our temper in check. I also have the chance to take part in recycling work. Everything I do here brings me joy,” claimed the lively 14-year-old. Arun is the second among five siblings, the eldest three of whom are educated in Chinese-medium primary schools in accordance with their parents’ foresight of enhancing their children’s competitive edge through the mastery of an additional language. It takes a village to raise a child, as the saying goes, implying the influential role teachers and guardians play in educating a child. A conducive learning environment is equally essential in nurturing budding minds, promoting the dissemination of knowledge and a love for learning. [Photograph by Tai Fuey Tat] Our Classroom, Our Second Home, Our Sanctuary