The World Of Tzu Chi March 2024 (Vol.149)

06 “O ver the past 30 years, I have found joy in each passing day. I consider meeting a wise mentor and embracing the Bodhisattva Path as my greatest blessing in this lifetime,” shared Echo Chien, CEO of Tzu Chi KL & Selangor. Her heartfelt gratitude resonated deeply. Echo Chien and her husband, David Liu, embarked on a journey from Taiwan to Malacca, Malaysia, in the late 1980s for business. She encountered Tzu Chi during a trip back to Taiwan at the end of 1991, and was so profoundly moved and inspired, that in the following year, she initiated charitable efforts from her factory. She rallied her staff to join the cause and actively promoted Tzu Chi’s missions. By 1993, Tzu Chi’s compassionate ideals had inspired more people in Kuala Lumpur to volunteer. As liaison offices sprouted across Malaysia, the KL & Selangor and Malacca Chapters assumed the responsibility of taking charge of Tzu Chi’s affairs in Central, Southern, and East Malaysia, collectively coordinating a network of volunteers dedicated to alleviating suffering through charitable endeavours. In the blink of an eye, 30 years had passed. On December 30 and 31, 2023, and January 1, 2024, Tzu Chi KL & Selangor and Tzu Chi Malacca, respectively, welcomed their volunteers ‘home’ from various parts of the country for the 30th Anniversary celebrations. Gracing the momentous event were Taiwanese counterparts, including Yen Po-Wen and David Liu, CEO and Deputy CEO respectively of the Tzu Chi Charity Foundation; Hong Jing-Yuan, Head of Tzu Chi Foundation Editorial and Compilation Department; and Ji Jing Yang, a veteran Tzu Chi volunteer. One gives rise to infinity On the screen, a photograph captured Echo Chien on a broken roof as volunteers got on a mission to repair the dilapidated home of a care recipient. It was her pure intentions and passion for helping others that propelled her beyond the comfort of her home and into the neglected corners of society. The myriad faces of suffering she witnessed only deepened her conviction that the Tzu Chi path embodies truth and goodness. She transformed her home and factory 2024 • 03