The world of Tzu Chi March 2023 (Vol.145)

2023 • 03 26 and the sole breadwinner of the family. He had hoped for Sonam to marry, but he could not afford the dowry. Meanwhile, Sonam longed to continue her studies, envious of her friends who had the opportunity to do so. However, she could only weep in secret, feeling helpless and lost. As the eldest child in the family, Sonam felt an obligation to give her four younger siblings the chance to pursue an education. Her family’s meagre income was barely enough to sustain their daily expenses, let alone the cost of her higher education. An offer from Tzu Chi volunteers to help her to continue her studies gave her a glimmer of hope, but she was still waiting for her high school results and unsure of whether she would qualify for college. Despite receiving regular phone calls from Tulsi Narayan Matang, a Nepalese Tzu Chi volunteer, Sonam remained anxious. Sometimes, she was doubtful whether the volunteers would really keep their word or were merely giving her false hope. Finally, when her results were announced, the volunteers wasted no time to accompany her to the Khudabagar Adarsh College. Sonam was visibly relieved when the administrative staff confirmed that she fulfilled the enrolment requirements. Thanks to Tzu Chi’s funding of her full- year tuition fees, books, and miscellaneous expenses, Sonam’s dream of further education became a reality. Paving the way with love Surrounded by paddy fields, Sonam’s house is a long two-hour walk to her college. The only transportation in her family was an old bicycle, which her father uses to send her sisters to school. With classes starting at 6 a.m., Sonam has to leave home very early to avoid being late. In order to ease Sonam’s journey to school, Tzu Chi volunteers decided to accompany her in search of a second-hand bicycle, but the ones they found were worn- out and unsuitable. Hence, they decided to Volunteers took Sonam to the designated bookstore to purchase her textbooks. Their kind gesture inspired the bookstore owner to donate some stationery to Sonam as well. [Photo by Lee Lay Sim]