The world of Tzu Chi Nov-Dec 2021 (Vol.138)

06 2021 • 12 L ast March was an unprecedented time for Malaysia when Covid-19 wreaked havoc, turning lives upside down. It crippled the economy, affecting the livelihood of thousands. Amidst the loss of jobs and businesses, the greatest pain was the loss of loved ones. The phases of lockdown that spanned the past 18 months have caused distress and depression among the people, and mental health was in a brittle state. The Government and financial institutions reached out to the underprivileged groups but still, it was never enough as more fell into this category. At Tzu Chi KL & Selangor Charity Department, the phones rang endlessly. Peggy Lee, the staff in charge, was overwhelmed with calls for help, and the Tzu Chi Careline was set up to ensure timely assistance. The number of careline staff increased from one to a team of 12, where staff from various departments were roped in to support the mission. According to Peggy, at the initial stage of the pandemic, most people required material assistance. However, as the situation worsened, increasing callers could not manage their mental health. They needed someone to help them sort out their anxieties. Peggy could feel the tug at her heartstrings as she listened to the distressed callers, amidst the screeching sirens of ambulances rushing to the nearby hospital. Against this bleak backdrop of helplessness and desperation, Peggy felt inadequate. She feared running on an empty cup while sharing it with others. At one morning volunteer assembly, while listening to Master Cheng Yen’s speech, she found the answer. “Master reminded us that disasters serve as lessons for us to realize our blessings. Those who have the affinity to contribute should feel at ease and do as much as they can. Charity work must not stop,” shared Peggy. From then on, she would offer her silent blessings to those whom she failed to reach out. Mandy Chua, a staff of Tzu Chi Kota Kinabalu, also helped man the calls together with her colleagues in Tzu Chi KL & Selangor, despite the geographical distance. She believed that besides providing material assistance needed, the Careline had served as an emotional outlet for those in distress. “Some people needed to sell off their properties as they suffered the impact of the pandemic. They were under tremendous stress. I could feel that their suppressed emotions were partially relieved after talking to us. At least, there was still someone who cared enough to listen.” The phone operators would record the problems of each caller, and hand the details over to the volunteer interviewers who would further assess their needs. The list of eligible individuals or families would be passed on to the community distribution team to deliver the much-needed assistance as soon as they could. Over a period of more than four months, assistance has been extended to 2,078 families, with the joint effort of 12 phone operators and 53 volunteer interviewers, as well as 887 volunteer turnouts for the aid distributions. pecial Feature