The school children holiday camp with the theme “search, discovery and growth” was successfully held from 12th of December to 14th Dec.2008. A total of 180 participants were divided into ten paramita named groups and each group was placed under the charge of three to four group leaders (“Ai sing” brothers and sisters).

On the morning of checking-in, students, in exciting mood, accompanied by their parents started to arrive in droves. The participants were ushered to the 5th floor multipurpose for a getting to know you (ice breaking) session.
An important lesson that the student learned during their stay was the practice of fundamental Buddhist conduct that aid the concentration of the practitioners as well as the solemnity of the atmosphere when taking part in the morning and evening chanting.

In line with the theme of the camp, emphasis was placed on the Buddhist fundamental teaching of doing good and avoiding evil, filial piety towards parents and elders, and the law of karma (causation). Sister Gan delivered the Dharma lecture. The Youth group organized the discourse on the “ten meritorious deeds” through the media of drama to bring out the message of cause and effect.

Ven. Zhen Xin touched on the “four categories of gratitude “namely, gratitude for parents, the state, all sentient beings and lastly the triple jewel. Briefly, we should be grateful to:
1. parents who unconditionally feed and fend us –not to mention their love for us; 2. the state for the social facilities, welfare and security that we enjoy; 3. all sentients which have made our life as a social being possible and 4. the triple jewels of Buddha, dharma and sangha which show us the path to free ourselves from suffering to attain liberation.

During the opening night, in the presence of Ven. Zhen Xin, the camp leader and the organizing chairman, the “ai sing” family (ai sing brother & sisters) presented the theme song “heart of gratitude” using sign language to depict the learning process of searching, discovering and growth in the life of a child.

The second night witnessed the lamp lighting and thanks giving ceremony signifying the passing of the message of dharma from the senior participants of the past years to the new participants. The participants knelt in front of the majestic Buddha statute to repent and pray before they approached their parents to ask for forgiveness for any wrong doings on their part. The scene must have touched the hearts of many.

The campers also had an early new year’s interaction with the inmates of Wan Chin Yen, wishing the senior folk a happy new year and good health.
The talent performance unveiled in the afternoon of the final day saw the students displaying their talents in singing, dancing, hand sign performance, modeling and poetry recitation. The finale of the day was the parent –children interactive game. Finally, the time had come to say good bye and the participants promised to come back for the next camp.