Katrina Ann Volunteers!
Katrina (right) and Lelaina (left) helping out during the KMP Mine’s Book Fair!
Katrina Ann has been volunteering in Kechara Saraswati Arts (KSA) for the past few months. Both her parents and her began helping out at KSA while preparations were being made for the new gompa opening. They helped to bead the pearls for Vajrayogini’s skirt and was seen till late at night helping out at the new gompa with her two school friends, Lelaina and Jia Ven.
Katrina Ann is 16 years old and still studying in school. When she heard that Melissa (Julia Tan’s, Vice-President of KSK, daughter) has been volunteering her weekends and holiday time to help out in the tortoise and aviary sanctuary, she was inspired to do the same.
So on New Years Eve, she came in to the Ladrang for the 1st time to get orientated and help out in the Ladrang animal sanctuary!
She first did 3 prostration and offered a Khata in the audience room to set her motivation. Then Joy (Ladrang staff) gave her an orientation on ‘Volunteering in the Ladrang’: the tortoise and aviary section, before she started.
Just 2 weeks ago, Julian helped out, volunteering in the animal sanctuary too. It’s nice to see young people caring for animals.
Tsem Rinpoche
Katrina cleaning the tortoise pond, picking up dry leaves in the pond and ensuring they have clean water to swim in later.
Katrina having her 1st day, 1st hand experience in the Tsem Ladrang aviary.
Another nice picture of lovely Katrina.
Katrina carefully washes the birds’ water containers, making sure all alga residues are clean and the birdies have fresh water to drink.
While Katrina was cleaning, our curious little friend, Betty (our Malaysian Forest Pigeon) came to check Katrina out.
Katrina shares her “lime light” with Betty. Betty obviously wanted to be in the picture too.
Katrina kindly cleans and gives fresh drinking water for the tortoises. It is very good for young people to volunteer in activities that help them develop empathy and care.
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As I was reading a recent article and about to make my comment, I spotted this article and couldn’t resist checking it out. Katrina looks so young then and now 5 years later, she and her friends are in college. Just back for her summer break, she will soon be volunteering again. I am very happy that she does this on her own free will and enjoys every minute of it. Of course for me, I am happy that she is in safe hands and receiving the blessings of the dharma at the same time. Its so important that she has strong foundation of the mind to see her through in whatever future she chooses. Rinpoche has always cared for us from the very young to the older and had provided us with every opportunity to connect with the dharma. It is for our own merits to open our hearts and minds to help our precious Guru to realize his vision of a world class dharma community and educational institute, be it by physical volunteering or monetary support. It will be a worthy legacy for eveyone.
Thank you Rinpoche for your love and compassion always.
Katrina is one of the most beautiful human beings I have met. She is not just beautiful on the outside but also in the inside. That is what many girls her age lack. While girls her age are out there chasing boys and buying cars, she is doing things for others like cleaning the aviary. Wonderful! I am so honoured to have been able to meet her within this lifetime.
Its always nice to see people help out. I have met Katrina and she seems like a very nice and kind person. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was helping out because she just seems like the type of person to do things like this.
I hope that in the future, i to get to help out more and also in the process get to see others help out more as well. But now, all i have to say is Good job to Katrina and Lelaina!
[…] Katrina Ann Volunteers! […]
Both Katrina and Lelaina are very helpful and sweet young ladies. I will always see them helping around whenever they have free time. They are also very good friends to be with! They talk to you, laugh with you..I’m very fortunate to able to have met both of them. I’m so proud of them.
Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
Love, beatrix.
I know Katrina at KSA when she was volunteering to do pearl beading for a rush job for the skirt on the statue of Vajrayogini before the opening of the new Gompa. With the little time I know her I can give comments without hesitation. She is ever ready to help in any department when she is requested. Her close friends Lalaina and Jia Wen also has the same attitude. People say birds of a feather flock together. Katrina has taken over her mother Sophie’s good qualities. Sophie is also a very active volunteer in Kechara House departments especially KSA. Katrina told me that after she has finished her studies she would like to take up Veterinary as her career. Her wish is to help in the Animal Sanctuary which Rinpoche is setting up.
How nice to see a fellow youth spending time doing Dharma work.
By doing Dharma work, it not only benefit other people but also ourselves. It opens up our mind to understand everything and everyone around us better. Very often, it makes us reflect on what we had been doing in the past (both good and bad) and how we can do those things better now. Better still how we can use our abilities to benefit more people and other beings.
There really is no right time to start doing Dharma work. If I want to avoid, I can have a million valid excuses. But where will that lead me to? At least by doing Dharma work, I know I will be benefiting all sentient beings directly or indirectly.
Personally I am still very new to all these and am still studying, working and partying. But I no longer will avoid doing Dharma work whenever my services are needed. I will take the initiative and make effort to do Dharma work as much as possible.
To do or not to do, its all in the mind!
Katrina is a Gem!
Watching her carry out her volunteer help out in the various activities is a joy. You can see she really have a knack and love for the creative arts and the amount of patience she has!
Her enthusiasm and passion just shines – I believe everyone who has ever been at KSA during the holidays helping out can see that!
Katrina and her 2 friends Lelaina and Jia Ven were more than fantastic doing the beading for the Buddha Vajrayogini’s skirt and bracelets. Their relentless pursuit for excellence is shown in the doing ,undoing, redoing of beading- just to get that perfect length, shape of beadwork right. They are really good at beading!
I am very happy to see Katrina volunteering in other departments – the same goes to the rest of our teens who have been lending a helping hand always with smiles on their faces!