The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.107)

TZU CHI 107 31 teach people to pursue the virtuous path and be kind to one another. Ah Chee lives on government welfare handouts and public donations. He only spends on necessities and saves the rest into the bamboo bank. Whenever he contributes to the bamboo bank, he wishes that the small sums of kindness can be used to help the needy. “Others have helped me, so I need to do the same in return. This is called giving back,” he said. Bui Thi Ngan, aVietnamesemother brought along her 6-year-old child to donate a fully filled bamboo bank. As a care recipient and a Tzu Chi donor, she learnt to be grateful after witnessing many others who were worse off than herself at a year-end distribution event. She adopted a bamboo bank and told her daughter, “Save up slowly. Many people are poorer and are suffering more than us, so we should do our best to help.” With a pure heart, the daughter kept her mother’s words in mind: “Help those who suffer more than us.” Whenever her mother comes home from shopping, she says to her, “Please give me some loose change to save into the bamboo bank.” Before long, the fully filled bamboo bank has been returned to Tzu Chi. Tzu Chi Malacca has helped approximately 300 households and benefitted nearly 17,000 people in the past year through its charitable efforts. YB Low Chee Leong acknowledged Tzu Chi’s advocacy work in the charity, medical, education and humanistic culture areas. He said, “Regardless of how developed a country and its society is, underprivileged groups still exist. We need strength from Tzu Chi volunteers.” He thinks that Tzu Chi sets a good example in bringing warmth to society, and hopes that Tzu Chi continues to spread the spirit of Great Love to every corner of the world. The “God of Prosperity” went around to encourage vegetarianism besides delivering blessings. [Photograph by Ng Hock Thai]