5th Grade Class' Visit to Tzu Chi’s Campus in San Jose

In preparation for an upcoming cultural exchange in Taiwan, local students visited the Tzu Chi Northwestern Campus this past Friday, trading their traditional desks for a deep dive into global humanitarianism.

The immersive visit was designed to introduce the class to the "Four Missions" of the Tzu Chi Foundation: charity, medicine, education, and humanistic culture. Through a guided tour and historical presentations, students explored how the organization provides disaster relief and medical aid on a global scale.

Beyond the lectures, the visit focused on practical life skills and cultural etiquette. The afternoon session included:

• Culinary Arts: Students prepared vegetarian meals from scratch, emphasizing a plant-based approach to environmental health.

• Dining Etiquette: A workshop on traditional table manners, focusing on mindfulness and respect during shared meals.

• Cultural Exchange: An exploration of the core values of gratitude and "great love" (Da Ai) that underpin the organization's philosophy.

Faculty members noted that the experience was more than just a field trip; it was an exercise in empathy. "It was truly enriching to observe our students demonstrate such openness and respect toward unfamiliar cultural practices," one organizer shared. "We hope this experience cultivates a lifelong appreciation for gratitude and love."