“The salty sea breeze brushing against their faces is the most beautiful memory of the Eluanbi Lighthouse.” On the eve of graduation, sixth-grade students from Pingtung University of Education’s affiliated elementary school, led by their teacher Huang Shujuan, visited the Genesis Pingtung Branch. Using their eyes and feelings, they shared travel experiences, as if taking vegetative patients on a trip with them. After the visit, they donated all the receipts collected by the entire school faculty and students to help fund the daily care expenses of the residents.
Teacher Huang Shujuan pointed out that these students had just finished their graduation trip and took advantage of the last outdoor lesson of their elementary school years to visit Genesis. Through their actual actions, they showed everyone how to learn to care for people in society who need help. Even with just a small amount of power, many things can be done. At the same time, they taught the students to take good care of themselves and cherish life.
In addition to sharing travel diaries from the graduation trip, the students also brought their favorite instruments and storybooks. By playing music and reading aloud, they accompanied these immobile uncles and aunties through a rare and special morning.
Cai Hanyu from Class 6-C said with emotion, “Although I know they can’t respond in any way, I always feel that it must be very hard for vegetative patients to end up like this. Thinking about it makes me quite sad, so I want to do something for them if I can—whether it’s collecting receipts or playing music—I hope it can bring them a little more joy in life.”
Lin Aihua, director of the Genesis Pingtung Branch, admitted that since the Unified Invoice Lottery introduced higher jackpots, it has become increasingly difficult to collect receipts. She hopes that through student visits and small activities such as blessing postcards, not only will love continue to be passed on, but more nursing funds for the institute can also be raised.