The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.112)

2019 • 07 32 pecial Feature opportunities to practise recycling at home, as she already had her hands full dividing her time between housekeeping duties, tending to her grandchildren and preparing vegetarian meals. Rather, she implements recycling practices in the workplace. “Since the early 80s, I’ve been gathering newspapers and used sheets of paper from my office to be traded in to recycling vendors at regular intervals. At that time, it never occurred to me that I was already contributing to recycling efforts in my own way,” she shared. During her time working as a janitor at an insurance company, Choy Len would seek permission from the management to trade in discarded scrap paper and outdated phone directories to recycling vendors who were willing to take them in. She would either treat herself to fried chicken at a fast food outlet with the earnings, or shop for fabrics to be tailored into new garments if she managed to obtain a fairly substantial sum. Back then, her intention was simple: to earn additional income from trading in recyclables. After tying the knot in 1986, she moved into a wooden house next to Grandma Say. She was intrigued by the sounds of metal cans being flattened originating from Grandma Say’s compound – not to mention the chicken coop loaded with recyclables. One day, Grandma Say chanced upon Choy Len when the latter was handing over stacks of used paper to a recycling vendor, and sought Choy Len’s permission to donate the recyclables to Tzu Chi for charity. Choy Len willingly agreed, and has been transferring her recyclables to Grandma Say ever since. Acustodian of environmental conservation Choy Len had been blissfully unaware of her ongoing contributions to environmental conservation efforts through her commitment to recycling. She was only alerted to the significance of her endeavours upon visiting the Tzu Chi Pudu Recycling Point with volunteer Cheam Hua, to whom she was introduced by Grandma Say. Her involvement in Tzu Chi has not only enlightened her on the importance of environmental conservation, but also highlighted to her the plight of the disadvantaged. In particular, bathing and feeding the residents of Taman Sinar Harapan Kuala Kubu Bharu, a home for the physically- and mentally-disabled, has reminded her of her obligation as an able- bodied individual to care for the less fortunate in society. The eye-opening experience left a profound impact on her, inspiring her to join Tzu Chi as a volunteer. She was certified as a Tzu Chi Commissioner in 2016. Apart from actively participating in recycling work, Choy Len has discovered another platform in Tzu Chi to pursue her culinary interests. An avid home cook, Choy Len would eagerly volunteer to prepare meals with the kitchen crew for Tzu Chi events. Choy Len moved into the PPR Raya Permai Sungai Besi flats in 2009, and has since established her reputation as a leading figure in preparing and serving vegetarian meals during Recycling Days at the nearby Tzu Chi Taman Castlefield Recycling Point. She is now widely acknowledged as a skilled cook, famed for her vegetarian rice dumplings. In fact, demand for her signature rice dumplings has been encouraging at Tzu Chi’s charity fairs to raise funds for the construction of the KL Tzu-Chi Jing Si Hall and Tzu Chi International School Kuala Lumpur, among other causes. Choy Len proclaimed that although her dedication to recycling efforts at home might pale in comparison to Grandma Say and Kan