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On the eve of the Lunar New Year, the air was filled with the spirit of reunion and blessings. Amid warm companionship and laughter, a group of youth came together through shared affinity. From strangers to friends, they found a common direction through sharing and service. On February 1, 2026, the Burnaby Office held a youth volunteer year-end gathering, planting seeds of goodness for the coming year.
Warm Gathering, Bringing Together Good Affinities
A total of 11 young people participated that day, accompanied throughout by nine Tzu Chi volunteers who thoughtfully prepared a hearty lunch. As the event took place just before the Lunar New Year, it served both to express gratitude to the “Caring Brothers” for their long-term dedication and companionship at the Tzu Chi Academy, and to welcome new volunteers, allowing young people to get to know one another and build connections.
The icebreaker activity used Jing Si Aphorism bookmarks as a medium. The youth were divided into two groups, and each person chose a bookmark to introduce themselves and share their reflections on the aphorism, bridging the distance through relaxed interaction. Ray drew the aphorism, “Treat difficulties as driving forces, not stumbling blocks.” He admitted that he is naturally introverted and originally did not plan to attend, but gathered the courage to come after repeated invitations from his good friend William. To his surprise, he made many friendly new friends.
William’s mother is a Tzu Chi Commissioner in Indonesia. In late 2025, William proactively signed up as a volunteer through the Tzu Chi Canada website and immediately joined the community light festival service in November of the same year. For this gathering, William also invited five classmates and friends to join him, and thoughtfully prepared two boxes of cake to share with everyone, adding a sweet touch to the event.
Sharing and Exchange, Inspiring Growth
Another youth chose the Jing Si Aphorism, “If small things are not done, great things are hard to accomplish.” He laughed, saying he initially picked it because it had the fewest words, but upon closer thought, he realized its profound meaning—if each small task is done well, the accumulation becomes nourishment for growth. “Although I’m still a student and can’t accomplish big things yet, doing the best I can with what’s in front of me is already something meaningful.” His words were simple yet sincere.
Host Ruo-Qing Ma introduced the spirit of Tzu Ching (Tzu Chi’s collegiate youth volunteers) and the activities organized by Vancouver Tzu Ching in 2024 and 2025, and played a video from the 2025 Global Tzu Ching Camp in Taiwan. Volunteer Yi-Rong Liu then introduced Burnaby’s Breakfast Program that supports various local schools and explained the philosophy of the Tzu Chi Academy, warmly inviting the youth to participate in service.
Pei-Ran Gu, a certified Tzu Ching member also shared her reflections: “The people and matters I’ve encountered in Tzu Chi activities have brought me unique and precious life experiences.” Ruo-Qing Ma, who was newly certified as a Tzu Chi commissioner this year, deeply resonated with this sentiment. She stated that every responsibility is an opportunity for learning and growth, making her cherish her connection with Tzu Chi even more, which is why she bravely took on the role of the Tzu Ching Coordinator for the Burnaby area. She single-handedly planned and organized this event, hoping to guide more youth to learn about Tzu Chi.
A Festive New Year Atmosphere, Walking Together in Blessings and Wisdom
Before lunch, everyone washed their hands and prepared to make vegetarian dumplings while chatting about Lunar New Year traditions from different places. Many of the young people were making dumplings for the first time. Although the shapes were not perfect, the laughter never stopped as they proudly showed off their creations. Several volunteers also carefully prepared a sumptuous feast, allowing everyone to share the taste of reunion in joy.
After the meal, a lantern riddle guessing activity was held. Yi-Rong Liu first introduced the volunteer services in the Burnaby area, then turned the information into lantern riddles for a prize quiz. The atmosphere was lively, with bursts of laughter throughout.
At the end of the event, each youth received a red envelope containing a youth Jing Si Aphorism, symbolizing blessings of both fortune and wisdom. Many said that they had not been very familiar with Tzu Chi in the past, but through this event, they felt the warmth of a big family and made new friends. They look forward to continuing their participation in the future, growing steadily through service and learning, and allowing the power of goodness shine in their youthful years.