Students from UNHCR Tzu-Chi Education Centres had an eye-opening experience visiting the National Science Centre and KL Tzu-Chi Jing Si Hall.
More than 130 upper primary students from UNHCR Tzu-Chi Education Centres (Harmony and Unity Schools) visited the National Science Centre at Mont Kiara on March 20, 2019, in the company of their teachers and Tzu Chi volunteers. The outing gave the students an extra dimension as they explored the exhibits and exchanged their experiences. In addition, they discovered possible subject choices, programmes of interest, as well as their career opportunities.
The visit to the National Science Centre was an eye-opening experience for the refugee children. [Photograph by Ng Sook Jen]
The children were captivated by the freshwater fish in the aquarium. [Photograph by Ng Sook Jen]
“The outing to the Science Centre was informative!” exclaimed Mubarik Rahman bin Ramzan Ali, a Primary 3 student from the Unity School. Mubarik added that his ambition is to be a scientist or a doctor.
Teacher Jessica Tan of Unity School said, “The visit promotes learning in line with school value that learning should go beyond borders. Such outing helps the students to understand what they have studied in theory and could proceed with the knowledge that surprises them.” She even remarked that this outing to Science Centre has enhanced students’ understanding of Science with great confidence.
Ali Akbar Rezaie bin Ghulam Haidar, an Afghanistan boy studying in Unity School, was happy to get the chance to gain knowledge from this visit to the Science Centre. “I had never visited a Science Centre back in my country,” he said. Now, he is abundantly clear and is very interested in Science. He was stunned by the exhibits on Topology, and spent a long time trying to figure out how to release the rope from the rings. To him, the outing was both meaningful and memorable, for not only was he exposed to interesting knowledge, but he was also able to relax and rejuvenate himself.
Multi-cultural diversity of Tzu Chi
After the visit, the group went to the KL Tzu-Chi Jing Si Hall, where they were treated to a vegetarian lunch, followed by a 30-minute amazing magic show presented by a volunteer, Francis Tan. The students enjoyed watching it and were mesmerized by the magic spells.
A guided tour to the Exhibition Hall on the ground floor of the Jing Si Hall was also arranged for the students and teachers to gain a better insight into Tzu Chi’s ideals and missions. The students appreciated the wonderful tour, through which they learnt about the charitable and kind deeds of Tzu Chi people, and the human values and etiquettes that Tzu Chi emphasizes.
Volunteer Francis Tan (middle) performing his live astounding magic tricks. [Photograph by Ng Sook Jen]
The students had a guided tour around the Exhibition Hall on the ground floor of the KL Tzu-Chi Jing Si Hall. [Photograph by Ng Sook Jen]
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To quote Master Cheng Yen, “Life is filled with pain and suffering, but also with hope and love.” Although these refugee students are faced with various hardships living in a foreign land, with education and love from society, they will be able to see light ahead and lead a purposeful life.
