Written by Shuli Lo
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Ida Eva Zielinska
As winter set in, Tzu Chi volunteers in Tijuana, Mexico, and students from the Classroom of Hope at the Tzu Chi Tijuana Campus organized a meaningful Christmas outreach ahead of the holiday. They stepped out into the local community to check in on and care for vulnerable individuals they have supported over time. Among those they visited, 21-year-old Vanesa touched the hearts of everyone on the outreach team with her pure smile.
A Heartwarming Encounter
According to volunteer Shiu Yun Tsai, Vanesa’s connection with Tzu Chi began through her grandmother, who regularly attended the monthly free vision care clinic at the Tzu Chi Tijuana Campus. During an exam, the doctor diagnosed her grandmother with cataracts. Although she was referred to Mexico’s public health services, she was told that assistance for cataract surgery was available only to low-income patients age 60 or older. Since one of her eyes was still functional, Vanesa’s grandmother was advised to wait until the appropriate time to undergo surgery.
During home visits to her grandmother, volunteers came to know Vanesa and learned about the hardships her grandmother faced while raising her granddaughter alone for years. In July 2025, a special dental care team from Taiwan traveled to Tijuana to participate in a free clinic. Tzu Chi collaborated with Mexico’s public health services to include Vanesa as one of the special dental treatment cases. Volunteers helped her complete multiple dental treatments and continued to follow up and care for her. As visits became more frequent, Vanesa and the outreach team grew closer.
Christmas gifts for long-term care recipients in Tijuana are prepared in advance. Photos/Shuli Lo
For Christmas 2025, the Classroom of Hope planned an outreach and selected six long-term care recipient cases, including Vanesa. In the weeks leading up to it, Classroom of Hope students visited Vanesa’s home and met her and her family in person. After learning about their living conditions and needs, the students discussed and purchased the most suitable Christmas gifts. They also prepared daily necessities for her grandmother, who has cared for Vanesa for years, conveying heartfelt blessings.
An Innocent Smile Is the Most Precious Christmas Gift
Vanesa developed intellectual disabilities and psychomotor developmental delays after contracting meningitis at five months old. This also caused communication difficulties, limiting her verbal expression and social interactions. When Vanesa was still a child, her mother left, and her grandmother took on the responsibility of raising her. Yet life’s hardships have not dimmed Vanesa’s smile. Born optimistic and always beaming, she is affectionately known among volunteers as “the happiest person on Earth.”
When Tzu Chi volunteers and the Classroom of Hope team arrived at Vanesa’s home, a bright smile instantly lit up her face. Watching everyone perform sign language and sing blessings for her, Vanesa happily clapped her hands and swayed to the rhythm. Her spontaneous reaction touched everyone present, filling the scene with warmth and joy.
Classroom of Hope student Meredith Morales shared that she felt very happy when she first met Vanesa. But when she realized Vanesa could not move around and play freely the way she could, Morales decided to give her “the best thing” she had – her own smile. As they spent more time together, their bond deepened. “I really like her. Being with her makes me very happy,” Morales said.
Life Education Takes Root Through Action
Selena Rangel, a literacy teacher at the Classroom of Hope, said that Tzu Chi Tijuana’s Christmas outreach holds profound significance. Such activities not only teach children to be grateful for what they have but also guide them to treat others with compassion. Many children have experienced resource scarcity at some point in their lives. Now, with Tzu Chi’s companionship and blessings, they have realized they, too, can become givers. This opens their hearts, allowing compassion and kindness to take root.
Regardless of one's circumstances, the willingness to extend a helping hand is invaluable. Letting children recognize that from a young age is irreplaceable life education.
Classroom of Hope teacher Selena Rangel styles students’ hair and paints their noses to match their reindeer headbands, helping them look their best while adding festive Christmas cheer before they step out to visit families in need. Photos/Shuli Lo
This Christmas gift-giving initiative was more than an exchange of presents; it was a tender and meaningful life lesson as Tzu Chi volunteers, teachers, and children took action in the community to support under-resourced families. Even in the cold winter, they brought warmth and hope, allowing love to take root in each other’s hearts.
