The world of Tzu Chi March 2021 (Vol.132)

TZU CHI 132 41 lobal News United Kingdom 2021.02.02 Timely Help for Seamless Learning Report by Tzu Chi Documenting Team Translated by Chung Chin Sei Photograph courtesy of Tzu Chi Taiwan L ong Hanborough is a small village about ten kilometres away from Oxford city, England. In recent years, the population has grown rapidly and many houses have been built. The student population of HanboroughManor CE School in the village has also increased from 200-plus to more than 300 pupils. As the Covid-19 pandemic had affected household finances, buying warm clothing for their children posed a problem to some parents. Hence, on November 13, 2020, Tzu Chi volunteers delivered warm clothing to the school. The teachers carefully helped the students fit winter jackets and boots, while teaching them how to tie their shoelaces. These put smiles on the children’s faces. “Thank you! This is a long-awaited moment!” exclaimed a boy named Joseph. The volunteers also prepared 280 cloth masks for the students and 30 cloth masks for the teachers. These supplies came in timely as the school enforced wearing of masks for all, at the beginning 2021, as the pandemic situation worsened in the UK. However, the Government soon instructed schools to adopt remote learning from home. The school principal, Clare Morgan, once again approached Tzu Chi for help. She informed Tzu Chi that the school had only 30 laptops and notebooks. They had lent six units to parents but were still receiving calls for help. “Even if a family has a computer, the children have to share it. Whereas families without computers will require the children to use their parents’ mobile phones for online lessons. However, they cannot do their homework.” The volunteers responded promptly by purchasing 15 laptops for the school and delivering them on February 2. This temporarily alleviated the plight of some students who did not have the necessary resources to study from home. No matter how lives have been disrupted by the pandemic, learning must continue.