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Teachers and students at Tzu Chi Academy, Toronto have been involved in the milk bag collection and weaving initiative for over three years. Environmental education has always been a crucial part of Tzu Chi’s humanistic education. Under the guidance of former Principal Mei-zhen Shao and current Principal Jin-fen Zeng, the school has continuously encouraged students to actively participate in collecting milk bags and has established a reward system, truly embodying the principle of “environmental purity at the source.”
Initially, children might have participated to earn small prizes. However, they have been taught from a young age the concept of never casually discarding usable materials, a notion deeply ingrained in their young hearts. This also reflects the original intention of Su-wen Chang , a Tzu Chi volunteer and the coordinator for milk bag mat weaving in Eastern Canada.
Good Disciples of Jing Si: Milk Bag Collection Becomes a Trend
Initially, the number of milk bags collected by parents, teachers, and students was limited. But starting this year, this environmental action has become a popular trend within the school, with collection volumes significantly increasing. While mat weaving was originally primarily done by adult volunteers, volunteer Su-wen Chang encouraged children to join in – as reported two years ago by Da Ai TV’s “Good Morning Tzu Chi Love”: milk bag weaving is a major environmental campaign that anyone from five to eighty years old can participate in.
The teachers and students of Tzu Chi Academy, Toronto are indeed good disciples who diligently practice Master Cheng Yen’s Jing Si Aphorisms, working together as gardeners to protect the Earth. Starting from the 2023 academic year, from summer camp to regular classes, volunteers and students have gone beyond just collecting; they have officially joined the weaving team. During the short two-plus hours of class time at school, they either cut or connect the bags. Everyone enthusiastically participates in this milk bag mat weaving, an activity open to all.
Early on November 30, 2025, Toronto was again covered in a blanket of ice and snow. Volunteers from the Tzu Chi Academy were busy shoveling snow and spreading salt because the day was packed with activities. Not only was there the Tzu Chi singing competition, but also the environmental milk bag mat weaving event, with an anticipated larger number of parents and guests attending. Clearing the accumulated snow from the pathways was crucial to ensure safety, allowing all participants to arrive safely.
By eight o’clock, all school volunteers had mobilized. Shun-chih Lin, a volunteer who primarily coordinates milk bag weaving in Toronto, also wore a second hat, overseeing the venue setup for the singing competition. Su-wen Chang, the coordinator for milk bag mat weaving in Eastern Canada, arrived at the school on time and immediately met with Shun-chih Lin to begin planning the layout for the milk bag weaving area.
Although this was not the first time weaving was conducted at the school, the simultaneous singing competition meant volunteers were extremely busy and stretched thin. They had even considered canceling the weaving activity. However, with years of experience, Shun-chih Lin and Su-wen Chang knew that the unique feature of milk bag mat weaving is its flexibility: “Anyone can join anytime, and leave anytime.” With flexible coordination and volunteers taking turns, the weaving could continue uninterrupted.
Suitable for All Ages: Joy in Weaving
When the tables for mat weaving were properly set up, only a few volunteers joined initially. This presented an opportunity to invite volunteers who typically participated less often. Chun-chen Li, a volunteer who usually guards the “Cherish Blessings Energy Station,” was invited to participate in connecting milk bags during the students’ class breaks.
Chun-chen Li always receives milk bags brought by children, but this was her first time learning how to connect and weave them. She was exceptionally curious and also very dedicated to learning. Although she is over eighty years old, her mind is perfectly sharp, and her learning ability and responsiveness are excellent. She was very happy to become part of the weaving team.
Before the singing competition began, students gradually moved from their classrooms to the auditorium. Passing through the corridor where the weaving area was set up, they paused to watch. Normally, children just bring milk bags to school; now, they finally saw firsthand the process of turning “milk bags” into “mats.” Even a brief one or two-minute glance showed them how much effort from so many people is required to create a single mat.
During recess, several middle-grade students who were not participating in the singing competition were also drawn by the colorful milk bags. They followed the volunteers to learn weaving; in just ten minutes, they too found great joy in it.
Ming-che Wu, a volunteer who was initially invited just to observe, also began to try cutting milk bags. Although it was his first time, his focus was truly unmatched, and he quickly got the hang of it. He developed an interest in cutting and later mentioned that he is now retired and has ample time at home. After school, he even borrowed milk bags and cutting boards to take home and continue cutting, preparing them for volunteers to weave the following week.
Sincere Weaving: Warming the Homeless, Comforting Disaster Victims
Milk bag mat weaving originates from an environmental concept, but at Tzu Chi, it carries a deeper message of love and care. Weavers came and went, but Shun-chih Lin and Su-wen Chang stood firm at their posts, always guiding newly joined volunteers and introducing the origins of milk bag weaving.
Su-wen Chang also shared that just the day before, she had donated ten milk bag mats to the Milk Bag Association. These, along with over two hundred mats woven by other groups, were loaded into a container and sent to Jamaica to aid the victims of Hurricane Melisa. Sharing these details helps volunteers understand that their efforts are indeed helping those truly in need. Even five, ten minutes, an hour, or two hours of involvement are profoundly meaningful.
As half a mat had already been completed in the previous academic year, the plan this time was to weave the other half and combine them into a full mat. Volunteer Wen-yi Tan, who is always eager to do good deeds, actively participated in weaving despite his less-than-flexible hand joints. He diligently learned to weave and collaborated with Su-wen Chang to complete the other half. With the combined efforts of both new and experienced volunteers, a mat approximately 175 cm long was completed. It can shield homeless people in northern countries from the winter cold or serve as a clean sleeping mat for disaster victims ravaged by hurricanes.
Deputy Director Cai-feng Hsu of the Economic and Cultural Centre, after attending the Tzu Chi singing competition, passed through the weaving area. Guided by Principal Jin-fen Zeng, she learned about the Toronto milk bag weaving team. After the introduction, Deputy Director Hsu was deeply impressed, feeling that such a meaningful activity was worth promoting. She left her contact information, hoping to inform the Toronto overseas Chinese/Taiwanese community about Tzu Chi’s milk bag collection and weaving efforts, thereby implementing local community outreach. This positive effect has even extended to Central America.
The milk bag weaving promoted by Tzu Chi in Eastern Canada is an activity in which everyone, from young children to seniors, can participate. It is not just about environmental protection; it also warms hearts with love and sincerity. This approach of making environmental concepts part of daily life and promoting resource recovery integrates true compassion into our actions, combining environmentalism with charity, and serving as the best humanistic education for children.
