The world of Tzu Chi June 2020 (Vol.123)

TZU CHI 123 45 Wai Tooh never let his guard down; he slept at his mother’s feet at night, worried that he would miss her calls. who constantly expressed their concern for him in various ways. The volunteers reminded him to exercise caution when handling recyclables, invited him for vegetarian lunches and offered to let him take home pre-loved garments that fitted his size. Wai Tooh’s involvement in recycling work served as an emotional outlet for him, as he was able to engage in cheerful banter with the volunteers and bask in the friendly atmosphere of the recycling centre instead of being confined at home. Chooi Leng observed that Wai Tooh had never lamented the demanding duties expected of a caregiver, but she sympathized with the difficulties encountered by long-term caregivers. “Wai Tooh rarely smiled. He was dedicated to caring for his mother. We felt sorry to see him being cooped up at home all the time, so we invited him to participate in recycling work at the recycling centre as a temporary form of escape. He smiles more often now.” Wai Tooh deftly sorted the recyclables according to category and lifted a box of cardboard with ease. Then, he tipped the contents of the box into an industrial-size dumpster much larger than him. SiewLian noted that Wai Tooh had not only learnt to categorize recyclables, but also built his stamina ever since participating in recycling work over a year ago. “Working at the recycling centre allows me to chat with the volunteers and help them with sorting recyclables, besides getting to learn more about environmental conservation,” remarked Wai Tooh, a man of few words. He appreciated the assistance the volunteers extended to him and his mother, prompting him to devote himself to recycling work in order to help others with the revenue gained from trading recyclables. The stress, both physical and psychological, faced by the caregivers of senior citizens whose health has been compromised is unimaginable to outsiders. However, Wai Tooh was not alone. He was able to cope with the care of his mother with the help of the volunteers, permitting him to spend some time away from the pressures of attending to his mother by serving at the recycling centre. This enabled him to commit to a charitable cause and fulfil his filial duties at the same time. Better to give than to receive The volunteers have learnt lessons from those under their care. Bee Tin admitted that Wai Tooh’s filial deeds reminded her to devote more time to her parents, besides compelling her to