The world of Tzu Chi April 2021 (Vol.133)

TZU CHI 133 15 Teoh Ai Hua’s Profile • Senior lecturer in social work, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) • Former President of Malaysian Association of Social Workers (MASW) (2011 – 2017) • Former Chair of Commonwealth Organization for Social Work (COSW) (2014 – 2020) • Honorary Secretary of International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW – Asia Pacific) • Honorary Treasurer of International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW – Southeast Asia & Pacific Region) • Press Secretary (2004 – 2009) and Assistant Special Officer (2009 – 2013) to Former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Ai Hua also assists welfare organizations with manpower training. In the early days, he provided trainings to volunteer helpline counsellors at a Buddhist organization in Penang. Later on, he has been conducting trainings mainly to social welfare organizations in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. To him, social workers must be clear about their goals and objectives, and have the right mentality when helping others. He said, “Social workers are not the saviour, nor are they omnipotent. They must not hold grudges if their help is rejected.” After all, it takes two to tango. “The prospects of social workers are full of unknowns,” Ai Hua spoke of his concern. In recent years, he has committed himself to developing the social work profession and collecting data to prove the importance of social workers. Strictly speaking, this is thankless work. However, he was greatly influenced by a senior social worker. Datuk Dr. Abdullah Malim Baginda, former Director General of Social Welfare Malaysia, is one of the pioneers and founding President of theMalaysianAssociation of Social Workers (MASW), which was established in 1973. He has yet to stop being active despite being 89 years old this year, instead, he is even more dynamic in community activities. He subsequently established the Persatuan Kebajikan USIAMAS Malaysia, an association catering to the welfare of senior citizens, and serves as its chairman. His spirit of contributing to society moved Ai Hua deeply. “For that reason, I will use my profession to strive for the welfare of social workers. We must make better plans to protect the future of social workers who have devoted themselves to this sector.” Love and respect go both ways. May this love and care between people forever guide all of us in the right direction, just like how the Big Dipper does. * Instead of giving relief cash to the disaster victims, Tzu Chi engages them in the clean-up and pays them for their work, thereby encouraging them to rebuild their homes by their own efforts and revive their confidence in the face of adversity. The ‘Big Dipper’ – Social Workers