Teachers from around the world come online to learn how to conduct character education courses. Photo/Courtesy of Tzu Chi Education Foundation Written by Wendy WangTranslated by H. B. QinEdited by Diana Chang, Ida Eva Zielinska The Tzu Chi Education Foundation’s Character Education Team aims to develop good character in children through an age-appropriate and lively teaching style that integrates Jing Si Aphorisms into formal education.  In the past, the Character

In March of 2020, when multiple states established shelter-in-place procedures to safeguard communities during the spread of COVID-19, many presumed the pandemic would only last a few months at most. Yet, more than a year has passed, and the pandemic is still ongoing. During this time of great uncertainty, people’s lives and routines have faced myriad transformations. This also included the youngest members of the community, as schools closed and quickly shifted to facilitate remote learning. In February, however, the CDC announced that students from pre-K to K-12 would be allowed to return to school for in-person learning, provided careful guidelines could be upheld.

Founded by the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation in 2015, El Menahil International School serves Syrian families displaced by violence and conflict by providing education and support for children, adults, and their families. Designed to boost awareness and build upon the concepts of great love without limits, the Tzu Chi Character Education team established an “Anti-bullying in Schools” program to help students and teachers spot the signs of bullying. Also taught in the U.S., this program was carried out via a 30-minute group class. The one-week course took place from February 28 to March 4, 2022.