Fourth-year college scholars organize an unforgettable three days of learning, friendship, and fun.
A camp for scholars by scholars marked the 2024 Tzu Chi Scholars’ Camp held from June 28 to 30 at the Buddhist Tzu Chi Campus (BTCC) in Sta. Mesa, Manila.
Heralding the theme “Waves of Inspiration, Let’s Sail Together,” the annual camp treated 12 scholars from Zamboanga, 17 from Davao, eight from Leyte, 22 from Iloilo, 12 from Cebu, 24 from Bicol, 12 from Pampanga, and 55 from the Nation Capital Region to three full days of fun educational activities, thought-provoking discussions, and opportunities to forge new friendships with their counterparts from other Tzu Chi chapters.
With members of Tzu Chi Youth focused on organizing their own camp this August, the task of putting together a scholars’ camp fell on the laps of the fourth-year scholars.
Heading this year’s camp was Paolo Nicole Santos, who graduates magna cum laude from his Bachelor of Library and Information Science from the Philippine Normal University. Having actively participated in two scholars’ camps, Santos had an idea of what went into the making of a major multi-day event. Involved from start to finish, he began planning with a team of 60 volunteer scholars in May.
Among the plans was to divert from the usual theme of love. “We already love ourselves. Now let’s make it more about our aspirations, inspirations, and dreams,” says Santos. The element of water, or waves, complemented the theme “because when we’re wearing our blue uniforms and moving in unison, we create some sort of wave,” he explains. “Let’s sail together” is a nod to the boat of the Tzu Chi logo, a “ship of compassion” that serves as a safe haven for the suffering.
The team’s camp song—the fast and catchy “Sail Your Story”—was based on the Disney song “Live Your Story” by Auli'i Cravalho. Fresh, new choreography was created to match the anthem’s upbeat pace.
As for the activities, the team’s goal was to ensure that participants would have fun while learning.
The traditional tour around BTCC became an “Amazing Race”-inspired event, with scholars working together to solve challenges like identifying the upcycled features in the Tzu Chi Café, building a Jing Si Abode using Jenga blocks, and using Charades to impart words like “porridge,” “baby shoes,” and “50 cents” in reference to Master Cheng Yen’s wooden cabin.
Ice breakers livened the mood at the start of each camp day. On Day One, “What If” saw scholars answer hypothetical questions like “What would you do if you won P1 million?” or “What would you do if tomorrow was your last day on Earth?” On Day 3, “Guess the Gibberish” had participants competing to be the first to name words like “vegan,” “unity,” and “synergy.”
Even lectures came to life through groupwork. In a talk on climate action by Tzu Chi Program Officer Lineth Brondial, scholars eagerly volunteered to share their recommendations on how to save the biodiverse-rich province of “Utopia” from the perspectives of government, civil society, scientists and researchers, and immediate community members.
As always, the camp ended on a high note, with scholars’ spirits buoyed by the lively moves and messages of hope of their camp song and the Tzu Chi songs “Pulling the Ox Cart” and “One Family.”
Difficult and challenging as it was to organize a three-day scholars’ camp for the first time, Santos also considers it a fulfilling, learning experience. He hopes Tzu Chi volunteers will allow future scholars to put together succeeding camps. “It’s like passing the baton and paying it forward,” he says. “We once served you, now it’s time for you to serve the next batch.”
The likelihood is there, judging from the reaction of Rosa So, head of Tzu Chi’s Education Committee. “From the preparation to the theme, the song, and even the signing the song, I have no other adjectives. It was so good,” she says of the camp.
“This is the first time a camp was organized by scholars and I’m really happy. To the working personnel, you are so good. Of all the scholars’ camps, this is the easiest.”
Jenga blocks are used to help build a model of the Jing Si Abode.
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