~Shares inspirational words with detainees~
Christmas came early for prison guards and inmates housed in the detention cells a the Philipsburg Police Station on Saturday, when the St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation donated 14 wall fans as well as Christmas gifts to inmates and guards.
The prison had asked the foundation to donate the fans during the sweltering summer months when the cells had been very hot and inmates had been complaining about the unbearable heat. The foundation responded positively to the request and handed over the donation during its visit.
In addition to the fans the foundation also donated gift bags containing items such as exercise books, reading material, pens, snacks, candies and polo-shirts. The prison will give the polo-shirts to the inmates when they are released. The idea of the gifts is for inmates to also feel the Christmas spirit even though they are incarcerated.
Tzu Chi Commissioner Sandra Cheung delivered some inspirational words to inmates by sharing her own story of how Tzu Chi changed her life for the better. She spoke about a number of issues such as maintaining a healthy body, the benefits of a good posture and the importance of giving and helping the unfortunate in the community. Cheung along with volunteer Mercedes De Windt shared information about vegetarianism and veganism to inmates.
Information on how Tzu Chi started was also shared with inmates, who were encouraged to join the foundation.
Tzu Chi is a non-governmental international Buddhist compassion relief organization that focuses on charitable and post disaster relief work around the world. Tzu Chi, which means compassionate relief in English, was founded on May, 14, 1966 by Taiwanese Buddhist nun Master Cheng Yen, who was touched by the widespread poverty and wanted to do something about it. Her charity work began with a group of 30 housewives who set aside NT 0.50 cents equivalent to US $0.02 cents of their grocery money each day to help needy families. Her dedication and continued commitment over the years has transformed Tzu Chi into one of the largest non-governmental organizations in the world.
The St. Maarten chapter continues the tradition of how the foundation began and uses funds donated by its volunteers and members in the local community to fund its activities.
The information provided was so touching for some inmates that one pledged to join the foundation in an effort to play his role to help the community when he is released.
The group of volunteers who accompanied Tzu Chi Commissioner on the visit also sang Merry Christmas for the inmates before departing.
Tzu Chi volunteers will also be making their annual visit to the Pointe Blanche Prison as well as the Simpson Bay prison later this month. Gifts will also be presented to all inmates as well as to all prison guards at the two facilities. Volunteers will also have a programme during their visit to entertain and keep the inmates positively engaged during their visit.
Photos:
Prison 1:
Tzu Ch volunteers and the group of inmates stand near the items that were donated at the Philipsburg Police station on Saturday.
Prison2
Tzu Chi volunteers hand over gift items to inmates.