Locals Effort in Building Education

The groundbreaking of Tzu Chi School Singkawang is symbolized with sod turning by Tzu Chi Indonesia members.

Tzu Chi Singkawang is having groundbreaking for the development of Tzu Chi School Singkawang, Monday 18^th February 2019. The third school built by Tzu Chi Indonesia Buddhist Foundation was initiated by Singkawang local. Pui Sudarto, who is also volunteer of Tzu Chi Indonesia.

Pui Sudarto sees that Tzu Chi Education Mission has noble values because it involves moral and humanistic lessons. “At Tzu Chi School, we prioritize humanistic value which automatically makes us different from other national schools. I think that if we teach hard skills, every school can do the same. If teaching people to have a good heart, to work wholeheartedly, then not every school can do that. As long as I’ve known, only Tzu Chi school do that,” said Pui Sudarto with a happy face.

Pak Pui, his nickname, born and raised at Singkawang, West Kalimantan. Since childhood, he also experienced how it’s like to study in this thousand temples city until he graduated from high school. Since there are no universities in Singkawang that got a technic major, Pak Pui then left home to study. He thinks that the education quality from his hometown is actually not bad at all, but there a lot of things to improve so the locals are willing to let their children stay and study in Singkawang.

Tzu Chi Indonesia volunteer, Pui Sudarta, initiator of Tzu Chi School Singkawang is giving opening speech for the groundbreaking. 

His will to improve the education by building school has since long occur until he met Tzu Chi. “I have since long join with Tzu Chi, precisely responsible for the 10 years development. First in developing Jing Si Hall at PIK in 2009, and then build the others. All this time, I can only build the physically, next I want to build human character too with Tzu Chi School Singkawang,” said Pak Pui.

Pak Pui hopes that Tzu Chi School Singkawang can educate the next generations in Singkawang so that together, they can build a better Singkawang.

Support from Various Parties

Tzu Chi School Singkawang groundbreaking was attended by the chairman and vice chairman of Tzu Chi Indonesia Buddhist Foundation, Liu Su Mei and Franky O. Widjaja, volunteers, donators and also invited guests. Along with them, Minister of Law and Human Rights, Yasonna Laoly and Transportation Minister, Budi Karya Sumadi also presented and participated in the groundbreaking symbolically.

Minister of Law and Human Rights, Yasonna Laoly, also inaugurated the development of Tzu Chi School Singawang. In his speech, he express his gratitude to Tzu Chi in improving education and maintaining diversity.

Tzu Chi Indonesia vice chairman, Franky O. Widjaja is grateful for the development of School Tzu Chi Singkawang so that the education in Singkawang will always be improved in the future.

On that occasion, Yasonna Laoly also expressed his support for the development of Tzu Chi School Singkawang. He said that what Tzu Chi done is in line with President Joko Widodo work programs, which is start from this year, government will concentrate in building human resources.

“What Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation has done is a great contribution to the nation. I thank Tzu Chi that has provided assistance. Keep on what you have done for this nation and for the poor. Life will be happy if we can be useful for everyone,” said Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly.

Meanwhile, Singkawang Mayor, Tjhai Chui Mie expressed her gratitude to Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation for building Tzu Chi School in Singkawang. “This will of course help our government in improving education and human resources. Hopefully it will finished soon and Singkawang people can feel the benefits of this school,” she said.

Singkawan Mayor, Tjhai Chiu Mie together with Tzu Chi Indonesia volunteers on their way to the location of Tzu Chi School Singkawang groundbreaking.

Tzu Chi Indonesia members start the procession of groundbreaking by holding shovels and queuing for symbolization.

Vice Chairman of Tzu Chi Indonesia, Franky O. Widjaja also expressed his happiness because this is the first Tzu Chi School that is built outside Jakarta. “We are actually running Master Cheng Yen message that, where we make a living, we must contribute for the locals. This is a fine example because Pak Pui want to contribute and ask his friends in Singkawang to help those in need, including in the education field,” said Franky.

From just a seed at Tzu Chi Singkawang, Franky hope that it will spread the love to other Tzu Chi region. “So that there will be more locals, Tzu chi members contribute more for their own regions so we can grow better and better,” he hoped.

Tzu Chi School Singkawang will be built on 10 thousands meters square land and cover 54  classes, from playgroup to high school. Located at Jl.Alianyang RT 39 RW 15, West Singkawang, it is planned to start operating gradually in the next two years.

Translated by Alwing Low (Tzu Chi School)