Love Without Borders. Actions speak louder than words...
2021-06-22
"In serving others, actions speak louder than words.
As we traverse the Tibetan plateau, we measure our steps in service. The
universe is silent; love has no borders."
— Zhikai(Oscar)Wang , Program
Director, 2021
Kent School
Our 11th year of volunteer service in Tibet will kick-off in
August of this year. Tibet is a sacred place known for its magnificent
landscapes and long-standing Buddhist cultural traditions. This
Kent-alumni-created volunteer project has become one of Kent School’s
traditions. From fundraising to organizing various service activities, our
members engage in a variety of functions that may suit their specific skills.
We hope that our "Love Without Borders” project will instill in our
volunteers a grand vision of a united, empathetic new world remolded with love,
hope, and service.
"You were involved in this project a few years ago.
Please share with us some of your insights and reflections of this
program."
Zhikai(Oscar)Wang, a rising senior at Kent School,
Connecticut, has been elected as the Program Director for this year's outing.
Always smiling, Zhikai(Oscar)Wang explained: “I
have participated in I Love Tibet activities since 2018. At
the beginning, I just watched and followed the other seniors and really learned
how to attend to, to listen to, how to really serve those in need. Tibet is
truly a holy land with an ancient and mysterious culture.
At this time, on behalf of our team, I would really like
to point out the contributions of our past Team Leader, Chloe Mao, for her four
consecutive years of engagement and leadership on this project. She just
graduated from Kent this year and, so, I’m grateful to all of my team members
for putting their trust in me as their new team leader. Although we’re not
completely through the COVID-19 pandemic, we still have more than ten Chinese
students from various US private boarding schools and more than twenty parents
who have signed up to join us on our journey in 2021, continued Zhikai(Oscar)Wang.
"We look forward to helping our blind, orphaned
sisters and brothers in Tibet with our meager offerings. Love can surpass
borders and its light can undo any misunderstandings or misgivings between
peoples or nations." Zhikai(Oscar)Wang smiled and
said to us.
"Group members who travel to Tibet will enjoy some
of the most spectacular scenery in the world. There is the majestic Potala
Palace, the rolling, snow-capped Everest Mountains, and so much more.
During our service period, members of the group will
cultivate leadership and team synergy by raising funds and organizing various
activities. Physically, pushing one’s body to the limits by overcoming the
eventual altitude sickness is yet another challenge. Online volunteers can join
in remotely as well and contribute with their words, spirit, and creativity.
Through serving others, we can help to untap the potential in others and
ourselves. Personally, I have seen first-hand how compassion, education,
sacrifice, and empathy can change communities. Once again, many thanks to our
many partners and our offline volunteers for their hard work and
dedication."
"Due to the impact of the epidemic, you cannot go to
Tibet physically. What do you think is the special feature of this year's
event?"
Zhikai(Oscar)Wang took a breath, then began to share:
“Yes, this is a challenge. But, where there is challenge, there is also the
potential for creative growth. Due to these circumstances, our offline and
online groups have to plan and act in unison even more effectively. We have to
push our creativity to the limits to ensure that our participants can give all
that they have to give and that the children receive as much as they can."
"For example, I enjoy playing the piano. So, this
year, I will hold an online piano solo for the kids in Tibet. This concert is a
brand new, try-out activity. I just finished watching the classic manga,
"The Shape of Sound," which shows how powerful the sound can be. This
touched me deeply and I look forward to sharing this insight, this perspective
with the children.
At present, the specific arrangements for our various
activities are still in the planning stages, but they are beginning to take
shape. In addition to just spending time with the children in Tibet, we will
also help to re-paint the walls of their school, award scholarships to
hardworking and high-achieving students, organize outings for the students,
play games, treat everyone to our Big Mac Smile Lunch Party, and so on. I hope
that, through our collective efforts, the children will have the time of their
lives this summer and that all of our project group members will learn and grow
through their service.
I’m really hopeful and excited for this year’s “Love
Without Borders” project and I whole-heartedly welcome all prospective
newcomers to join in as well!"