訪問專欄 INTERVIEW｜翁子淇 Tzu-Chi Weng

2020年暑假，我們很幸運地有實習生子淇加入我們，他總是傾盡全力地協助每一件事項，活潑又充滿熱忱地與人互動、陪伴孩子們。我們與孩子們會想念他爽朗的笑容，也知道他會一直記得嚮光與孩子們！

Daisy：你是在何時、如何得知嚮光協會？為什麼想成為嚮光實習生？
Tzu-Chi：今天五月我們暑假開始後，我最想做的事就是做志工，因為我一向認為人有餘力就要付出，所以在網路上看到嚮光在招募實習生，我點進去後發覺嚮光在做的事情真的是很有意義的，而我也希望可以和嚮光一起為孩子們努力，並對社會有所貢獻，就決定應徵了！ 

D：你覺得嚮光與其他組織有何不同之處？或是嚮光在做的事與其他組織有什麼樣的區別，這代表什麼意義？
T：嚮光真心愛這些孩子也願意全心全力為他們付出。我第一次聽到嚮光遠景計畫時還蠻訝異的，因為我知道這會是個不容易的計畫，會有很多要做的事也會是個很耗體力的計畫，但是我同時也明白，孩子如果能夠加入這個計畫對他們的未來一定有很多幫助。嚮光就是一個即便明白不容易，只要對孩子有幫助，就會願意去做的組織。 

D：在參與嚮光培力工作坊的過程中，有什麼有什麼值得紀念的時刻或與孩子們的互動讓您印象深刻？
T：今年七月底嚮光在清泉辦了一場壽司大會，那是我第一次認識清泉的孩子。他們是一群非常活潑而且開朗的孩子，即便跟你第一次見面，也會願意邀請你一起玩遊戲，主動靠近你。長大之後會發覺人跟人之間的聯繫變得很薄弱了，而主動靠近別人、甚至是要邀情別人一起玩樂也變成一件有點怪的事。但這些小朋友完全不是這樣想的，他們遇到人，即便不熟，也願意和你一起玩，他們超可愛！

D：是否有因為實習或與孩子互動，改變你未來處理問題或與孩子相處的方式？
T：老實說我以前不太會跟小朋友相處，因為我覺得他們好難控制，太活潑好動了，但是在參加過這麼多場嚮光的活動後，我發現這群孩子真的很純真很可愛，但也是因為他們如此純真可愛，他們身長的環境可能會劇烈影響到他們的性格，而這也是為什麼嚮光，作為一個以弱勢青少年族群為主要服務對象的組織會如此重要。另外，嚮光同時也教會了我要如何去愛孩子們。上次我們在準備相片集給清泉的孩子作為他們的畢業禮物時，我突然覺得，天那我們為了給孩子們一個溫暖的禮物，居然要花這麼多時間做這麼無聊的工作。但在那同時，我也被嚮光對小朋友們無盡的愛感動到了。

D：實際在培力營與孩子面對面後，在辦公室的實習的時候心裡是否有不同的轉變呢？
T：每次活動都可以看見這些小朋友是真的很開心，也因為我們的付出而有所成長。所以回到辦公室後，都會覺得自己做的事是真的有意義，也更有動力繼續為這些孩子努力。工作有時候是無聊的，各行各業都是如此。但在嚮光工作並不是這回事，畢竟當你在工作的時候，小朋友們可愛的笑容總是會浮現在你腦海裡。更棒的是，你會知道你在做的工作是對社會有幫助的，是有意義的工作。

D：你對孩子們有什麼期望，或是你能夠為孩子的未來做什麼？
T：我祝福這些孩子們永遠都有一顆善良的心，也有勇氣可以面對所有的困難與挑戰。也許沒有身長在一個健全的環境會讓這些孩子們很容易對自己的生活困惑、甚至迷失了方向，但我還是想告訴這群可愛的孩子們：「你們也許沒辦法選擇自己成長的背景，但你們可以選擇自己的心態，選擇你們未來想要成為的人。」還有！要記得感恩，因為即便人生會有很多難題，但殺不死你的，必使你更加強壯，而那些最後都會成為養份，而且這世界上一定還有很多人愛你，像是嚮光協會。 

加入我們實習生團隊！或歡迎來當大朋友志工！

Daisy: How and when did you find out about Bright Side Projects and what made you want to become an intern?
Tzu-Chi: After our summer vacation began in May, my first thing to do is to volunteer since I always think that people should dedicate themselves in society when they have enough capability. Fortunately I found Bright Side is recruiting interns and I’m so interested in Bright Side’s service, which is really meaningful for the society, so I decided to apply for the job.

D: What do you think are unique characteristics to Bright Side Projects from other organizations?
T: Bright Side committed itself fully to empowering kids. I was surprised when I heard about Brighter Futures, since I knew it could be really tiring and troublesome if you do so, but kids will also receive a lot of help if they could join Brighter Futures. At that moment I realised Bright Side is an organization which will be willing to do any difficult thing just to give these kids a brighter future.

D: Any memorable moments in the workshops with the children?
T: In late July of this year, we held an event in chingchuan, which was my first time getting to know kids there. They are so cute and outgoing that they invited me to join their games even if it was our first time to meet each other. You know after you grew up and the bonding between people and people became so weak, it’s sometimes really weird that you actively invite someone you don’t know to play together, but for these kids, it’s another story. They are so cute!!

D: Has this internship or moments in interacting with children through Bright Side Projects brought about any changes in how you approach issues/kids in the future?
T: Honestly speaking, I wasn’t a master in interacting with kids and sometimes even found them so annoying. However, after participating in so many events held by Bright Side and playing with so many kids, I found that they have innate cuteness and pureness, which could be impacted hugely by the environment, and that’s why Bright Side is here to help empower those kids living in disadvantageous environments. Also, Bright Side did guide me to know how to love these kids. Once we were preparing photo albums for kids in chingchuan as their graduation gifts, I was so surprised that we are doing such tedious work just to give those kids a warm gift, but also touched by Bright Side’s endless love for kids.

D: How has it been working in the office as an intern and being able to tie that in with the importance of the work Bright Side does with the children when you see their faces?
T: Since I could see the impact and how joyful kids are in the events, I did feel more motivated after the events and feel more energized to work for these kids. Working is tedious sometimes, and it’s a similar case in all walks of life. But working in Bright Side is so different. For one thing, kids’ smiles will come to your mind when you work; for another, you know what you are doing is beneficial for those kids. I wanna say thank you to Bright Side, since working here changed a lot of my mindset.

D: What are your hopes for the children or what you can do?
T: I hope these kids could stay kind and be brave to conquer all the hardships and challenges they might face in the future. Since for these kids growing without a favorable environment, it is easy for them to lose their way or feel confused; however, I really want to tell them that you cannot choose your background, but you can choose your mindset and the person you want to be in the future. Also, remember to be grateful, because no matter how those obstacles torture you in your lifetime, what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger, and they will all become the nutrition help you grow better. What’s more, there are always many people who love you unconditionally, such as Bright Side.

Welcome to join in our events or if you can read and write Mandarin fluently, join us as an intern!