Fo Guang Shan New Zealand
May 21, 2024

On 1st May 2024, a total of 244 Year 7 students and teachers from Mission Heights Junior College, along with 300 Year 4 to Year 6 and parents from Mellons Bay School, made visits to Fo Guang Shan Auckland to participate in the 10th 3G4G Festival of Cultural Sharing. They were warmly received by the Organising Committees of 3G4G. The New Zealand Police specially arranged for three school community officers, SEN CONST Matt Green, SEN CONST Marina Phillips, and SEN CONST Pauline Orpet, to escort the students walking to the Temple, providing them with lively interactive Q&A sessions during the program to enhance their safety awareness. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the education program, Buddha’s Light International  Association (BLIA) New York Chapter President Jenny CHEN composed a theme song titled 3G4G.

Mission Heights Junior College’s Principal Ian Morrison has been a strong supporter of the 3G4G Festival of Cultural Sharing, arranging for students to participate in the program every year since its inception in 2014, spanning a continuous 10 years. Team leader Dr Rajesh Joshi stated that the 3G4G program has become one of the school’s highlight activities, expressing deep gratitude to the Temple for organizing this meaningful educational event yearly. She highlighted that through this program, students have the opportunity to learn about different cultures and cultivate values of coexistence and co-prosperity.

Mellons Bay School teacher Kylie Smith praised the program as well organised, noting that each session provides students with enriching learning experiences. Student Joshni shared that he enjoys writing calligraphy, finding the meticulous strokes of each character to be a focus-enhancing activity. He expressed a desire to return to the Temple with his parents over the weekend.

Many parents and teachers were deeply impressed by this year’s theme song. They copied down the lyrics and expressed their desire for students to continue singing the song in the future. The lyrics of the theme song were simple and meaningful, coupled with the lively melody, which was full of vitality and infectiousness. Students found it easy to learn, with many being able to sing along after just two rounds of practice. The rich content of the activities has implanted the value of 3G4G into the hearts of every student. Students expressed their gratitude to the volunteers with lotus hand signs, joyfully stating, I will come back soon!