(Minghui.org) Young Falun Dafa practitioners in Taiwan attended a Minghui summer camp in Meteor Garden, Taichung City, from July 26 to July 28, 2024. Eighty children attended the camp and learned how to become better persons by following Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance through fun activities.
The well-designed curriculum taught children how to think positively and compassionately in the face of problems. The children enjoyed the time so much that they plan to come again next year. Some parents were moved to tears when they saw how their children improved.
2024 Minghui Summer Camp in Meteor Garden, Taichung City.
The kids studied the Fa at camp.
The campers practiced the Falun Dafa exercises.
The campers had a lot of fun activities such as playing games, making arts and crafts, singing, and watching plays.
Finding Attachments and Getting Braver
Yunxin, a seventh grader, has attended the camp several times. “I really like Minghui camp,” she said. “We are happy together and make friends.”
The campers also practiced the Falun Dafa exercises, including the sitting meditation. When Yunxin saw other kids meditate for 30 minutes, she felt encouraged to sit for that long even though it wasn’t easy. She was happy that she was able to make it to the end every time.
Yunxin said when she was in fifth grade, a classmate always gave her things, but she didn’t know how to decline, though she knew she shouldn’t accept them. “I was afraid she would be embarrassed. I was upset when she took my lipstick to draw everywhere, but I didn’t say a word.” After looking inside, Yunxin said, “I need the courage to say, ‘no.’ I found my attachment to saving face and fear.” She got braver and got along with her friends better.
Getting Along with Classmates by Following the Principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance
Xu’en is a fifth grader who has been practicing Falun Dafa with his parents for three years. He said he enjoyed the camp activities, studying the Fa, and doing the Falun Dafa exercises with other children. The camp put on plays that made an impression on Xu’en, “One of the roles in the play made me realize my attachment. I sleep in and don’t want to get up.” He wanted to improve himself.
Xu’en was elected by his classmates as an exemplary student in the past academic year. He said the reason he got along with his classmates was because he learned to live by Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, “One time, I had an argument with a classmate. I forgot about Forbearance at that time. I regretted it and went to apologize to him. We became friends again.”
He used to get nervous when exemplary students were getting elected, and felt sad when he lost by one vote in the past. “This year, I don’t think it’s that important. After I let go of my attachment, I was elected,” he said.
Meiying, another fifth grader, has attended six Minghui camps. Meiying’s favorite part of the camp is learning critical thinking. “Big brothers and big sisters (young Falun Dafa practitioners) at the camp taught us how to apply Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in our lives.”
Parents Sing Praises of the Camp for the Positive Influence on the Kids
Mrs. Lin heard about the Minghui camp from her friend. After watching videos of last year’s camp, she signed her daughter up. She was moved to tears after seeing her daughter’s growth after attending the three-day camp. She was impressed with the devotion of young Falun Dafa practitioners who volunteered at the camp. She hopes her daughter will grow up to be as considerate and capable as the volunteers.
“The principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance should be followed by both adults and children,” Mrs. Lin said. “I value character development and have been looking for a summer camp like this one.”
The camp dorms lost power four times on the first night due to a typhoon. Mrs. Lin noticed that her daughter was as calm as the other two children in the same dorm. “Kids are absolutely influenced by their peers and the atmosphere. The kids in this camp are so positive and independent,” Mrs. Lin praised. She was especially impressed by how warm, polite, and independent her daughter’s roommates were.
“It’s great! I’ll come back again,” Mrs. Lin’s daughter said.
Mrs. Lin added, “My daughter smiles more and has more friends. The volunteers at the camp are so patient and inclusive. They are great!” Tears came to Mrs. Lin’s eyes. “I see their big hearts. These are exactly the qualities I would like to see in my daughter.”
Mrs. Xu’s grandkids have attended the camp twice. She also sang praises of the camp. “This camp is great! My son-in-law has been touched by their curriculum which promotes traditional values. He has praised these young Falun Dafa practitioners for working wholeheartedly on the camp. They must have put a lot of time and thought into it.”
Mrs. Xu said that her granddaughters were very positively influenced by the camp. She also mentioned that her granddaughters didn’t panic when it got pitch black during the blackout because a little Falun Dafa practitioner in their dorm stayed calm and set a great example for them. Mrs. Xu was thankful that her granddaughter got a chance to learn about Falun Dafa.
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