23rd of December 2010
9.10am
Left Sarah (my school) to go to Suja
Left Sarah (my school) to go to Suja
11.20am
Reached Suja after spending about 15 mins looking for the path to Suja. The children were all gathered at the garden in front of the office block waiting for our arrival. Ngodup la, The director of TCV Suja had asked them to gather at 11am. After we arrived, the director suggested that we start distributing the shawls and settle the admin later. 6 big bundles of shawls were dragged from the store above the office down to the garden. Shawls were then unpacked and placed neatly on the table in front of office for ease of distribution later. Together with the shawls, we also had some snacks for every child.
Reached Suja after spending about 15 mins looking for the path to Suja. The children were all gathered at the garden in front of the office block waiting for our arrival. Ngodup la, The director of TCV Suja had asked them to gather at 11am. After we arrived, the director suggested that we start distributing the shawls and settle the admin later. 6 big bundles of shawls were dragged from the store above the office down to the garden. Shawls were then unpacked and placed neatly on the table in front of office for ease of distribution later. Together with the shawls, we also had some snacks for every child.
11.45pm
Shawls and snacks were unpacked and ready for distribution. Ngodup la started off by introducing Varada Effort (“VE”), the members of VE and the objective of VE to reach out to needy people. For the purpose of Suja students, VE had reached to the donors and collected the money, even if it is S$10 and S$50, to make today’s distribution possible. He explained that the shawls will be given to students who are staying back in Suja during the winter holidays. Other than the shawls, there will also be purchase of HHDL books in both Tibetan and English languages. These books are not all Buddhism-related books, but also include advices by HHDL on how to lead a more meaningful life. In addition, there will be purchase of musical instruments, such as Dranyen, Piwang, Yangchen and Madelin so that the children have the opportunity to learn to play their traditional musical instruments. This will go a long way to help preserve the Tibetan culture. Though they are refugees exile in India, their spirit should not be dampened and will not be killed by the Chinese. Hence, as a way of repaying the kindness of the donors and to HHDL, the students should study hard. In addition to accumulating knowledge, they should also work on building their character to be a person with loving kindness and a mind to benefit others. He emphasized that regardless of the amounts contributed, each and every donor had parted with their hard-earned money to make this possible for them. Hence, the children should bear their kindness in mind and attempt to repay the donors’ kindness. In my opinion, the director had clearly articulated the objective of VE and had given a moving speech to invoke the students’ emotions. He also joking added that the students can do anything with this shawl, except for selling it to a third party. I had intended to explain to the students VE’s objective and the donations made by VE, but he had covered them all in this introductory and thank you speech. He then bestowed on me, Dhondup and Jigme a khata each as a gesture of appreciation and gratitude of what VE had done for Suja.
Shawls and snacks were unpacked and ready for distribution. Ngodup la started off by introducing Varada Effort (“VE”), the members of VE and the objective of VE to reach out to needy people. For the purpose of Suja students, VE had reached to the donors and collected the money, even if it is S$10 and S$50, to make today’s distribution possible. He explained that the shawls will be given to students who are staying back in Suja during the winter holidays. Other than the shawls, there will also be purchase of HHDL books in both Tibetan and English languages. These books are not all Buddhism-related books, but also include advices by HHDL on how to lead a more meaningful life. In addition, there will be purchase of musical instruments, such as Dranyen, Piwang, Yangchen and Madelin so that the children have the opportunity to learn to play their traditional musical instruments. This will go a long way to help preserve the Tibetan culture. Though they are refugees exile in India, their spirit should not be dampened and will not be killed by the Chinese. Hence, as a way of repaying the kindness of the donors and to HHDL, the students should study hard. In addition to accumulating knowledge, they should also work on building their character to be a person with loving kindness and a mind to benefit others. He emphasized that regardless of the amounts contributed, each and every donor had parted with their hard-earned money to make this possible for them. Hence, the children should bear their kindness in mind and attempt to repay the donors’ kindness. In my opinion, the director had clearly articulated the objective of VE and had given a moving speech to invoke the students’ emotions. He also joking added that the students can do anything with this shawl, except for selling it to a third party. I had intended to explain to the students VE’s objective and the donations made by VE, but he had covered them all in this introductory and thank you speech. He then bestowed on me, Dhondup and Jigme a khata each as a gesture of appreciation and gratitude of what VE had done for Suja.
Dragging the big bundle of shawls
Shawls ready for distribution
Acknowledging Varanda Effort
Every kid receives a shawl, even if it's too big for you to carry!
Thereafter, we started distributing the shawls. Ngodup la already had the list of students’ names. He read out each and every name, upon which the students came up in an orderly manner to receive the shawls and the snacks. There were many, many students. As I was handing out the shawls to them, I had the intention of counting, but killed the thought due to the sheer number of students. When the students, regardless of age and gender, came forward to receive the shawls, they had this glow on their face. Some were shy and didn’t make eye contact with me; some whispered their thank-you; some flashed their smiles, looked me in the eyes and said thank you. “Thank you” came in various languages of Tibetan, English and even Chinese! This is the day when I had said the most “you’re welcomed” and “please study hard” in my life.
12.30pm
Distribution ended. Student leaders helped to bring the leftover shawls into Ngodup la’s office and did a stock count. There will be another distribution for the Class X students (Sec 4 equivalent in Singapore) at 2pm when the students finished their Social Science Exam at 1.30pm.
Distribution ended. Student leaders helped to bring the leftover shawls into Ngodup la’s office and did a stock count. There will be another distribution for the Class X students (Sec 4 equivalent in Singapore) at 2pm when the students finished their Social Science Exam at 1.30pm.
12.45pm
Ngodup la brought us to Home No. 6 to have lunch with the children. Lunch consisted of rice, dahl and potato. There were about 10+ students left in the home. Usually, there are 29 students in each home. After lunch, I asked the students if they had received the shawls and if the shawls are useful for them? To which both answers were yes. I then asked them if they are happy in India, the reasons for being liking India and their ambitions. It was a simple but joyous lunch.
Ngodup la brought us to Home No. 6 to have lunch with the children. Lunch consisted of rice, dahl and potato. There were about 10+ students left in the home. Usually, there are 29 students in each home. After lunch, I asked the students if they had received the shawls and if the shawls are useful for them? To which both answers were yes. I then asked them if they are happy in India, the reasons for being liking India and their ambitions. It was a simple but joyous lunch.
1.40pm
We went back to Ngodup la’s office to settle the admin. He passed me the bill for transportation from Ludiana to Bajenath (RS5,540). For the transportation of the 6 big bundles of shawls from Bajenath to Suja, they had to hire a truck which cost them Rs600, for which there is no receipt. He then showed me the draft of the acknowledgement letter. We discussed about the apportionment of the balance of money between books and more musical instruments (which explains why the final amount is different from what I shared in the email previously). I re-iterated that the apportionment of the balance fund between books and musical instruments is just a ball park guideline and can be adjusted based on his discretion, with his knowledge of what works best for the school as a director. However, he should use all the money.
We went back to Ngodup la’s office to settle the admin. He passed me the bill for transportation from Ludiana to Bajenath (RS5,540). For the transportation of the 6 big bundles of shawls from Bajenath to Suja, they had to hire a truck which cost them Rs600, for which there is no receipt. He then showed me the draft of the acknowledgement letter. We discussed about the apportionment of the balance of money between books and more musical instruments (which explains why the final amount is different from what I shared in the email previously). I re-iterated that the apportionment of the balance fund between books and musical instruments is just a ball park guideline and can be adjusted based on his discretion, with his knowledge of what works best for the school as a director. However, he should use all the money.
To prevent any possibility of misunderstanding (since my Tibetan is not good), I explained to him in English that we would very much like to present a shawl for each children. However, as we were not confident of raising sufficient money at the point of placing the order, we decided that the 1000 shawls will be given to students staying back during the holidays. As we had explained to the donors that the money would be used for the students’purposes, we prefer to keep the shawls to the students to be accountable to our donors. Hence, any leftovers should be kept for the newcomers from Tibetan. Should there be any other leftovers, he should keep them and when Rita, Lay Beng and Kyle come for visit in August 2011, we will decide what to do with the leftovers, if any. To that, he agreed.
I then presented the balance of the money (Rs 154,255) for him. At this point, he asked Suja’s Treasurer to count the money. I felt relieved to see the treasurer as this means that other than Ngodup la, another person will be safekeeping the money. Then the headmaster of the Senior School arrived. Ngodup la tasked him to look into the purchase of HHDL’s books. He mentioned that he will send VE a final list of the books purchased. The delegation of cash and purchase of books to another put my mind at ease as this means there is segregation of duties between authorization, custody of cash and purchasing, reducing the risk of potential cash misappropriation.
2.15pm
All Class X students were gathered in the garden and Ngodup la again gave a speech introducing VE and its objective. Contents of the speech was similar to what had been spoken in the morning but in a more condensed manner. This time, I didn’t say much as the students had yet to have their lunch and I didn’t want to hold them back. Hence, I merely urged them to study hard and contribute back to the society upon their graduation. Distribution of shawls and snacks started after that. There were 150 students in all. Again, Ngodup la read out the names one-by-one and the students came forward in an orderly manner to receive the shawls.
All Class X students were gathered in the garden and Ngodup la again gave a speech introducing VE and its objective. Contents of the speech was similar to what had been spoken in the morning but in a more condensed manner. This time, I didn’t say much as the students had yet to have their lunch and I didn’t want to hold them back. Hence, I merely urged them to study hard and contribute back to the society upon their graduation. Distribution of shawls and snacks started after that. There were 150 students in all. Again, Ngodup la read out the names one-by-one and the students came forward in an orderly manner to receive the shawls.
2.40pm
Distribution ended. We adjourned back to Ngodup la’s office to complete the rest of the admin work. The final acknowledgement letter was prepared. I thanked Ngodup la for his effort in this distribution. It was very well organized and he had been transparent and clear with the handling of money. He wished to express, through me, the gratitude he had for VE and donors of VE for their loving kindness and generosity. He reassured that the shawls are for the students to keep. He had told the home mothers that they should not interfere with how the students use the shawls and not attempt to keep the shawls on their behalf. These shawls are personal gifts for the children and they can bring it with them when they leave Suja. Again, he extended his invitation to all of you to visit Suja.
Distribution ended. We adjourned back to Ngodup la’s office to complete the rest of the admin work. The final acknowledgement letter was prepared. I thanked Ngodup la for his effort in this distribution. It was very well organized and he had been transparent and clear with the handling of money. He wished to express, through me, the gratitude he had for VE and donors of VE for their loving kindness and generosity. He reassured that the shawls are for the students to keep. He had told the home mothers that they should not interfere with how the students use the shawls and not attempt to keep the shawls on their behalf. These shawls are personal gifts for the children and they can bring it with them when they leave Suja. Again, he extended his invitation to all of you to visit Suja.
3.15pm
I left Suja with a great sense of gratitude to VE, donors of VE, Ngodup la, Dhondup and Jigme for making this distribution possible. A big heartfelt thank you to all your hard work. If only all of you were with me today. Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu…..
I left Suja with a great sense of gratitude to VE, donors of VE, Ngodup la, Dhondup and Jigme for making this distribution possible. A big heartfelt thank you to all your hard work. If only all of you were with me today. Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu…..
