The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.109)

2019 • 04 36 Local News Kampung Numbak, located along the coast of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, has a considerable population of illegal immigrants, most of whom do not have a legal identification card. Since 2013, Tzu Chi volunteers have been distributing disaster relief supplies and extending care to the villagers. Volunteers also discovered that many of the villagers were not only unaware of their illnesses, but they also could not afford medical attention. Hence, Tzu Chi Kota Kinabalu mobilized 150 volunteers and medical personnel to organize a free clinic at Numbak Vision Centre for the villagers on February 17, 2019. The free clinic provided general consultations, dental and optical services, health screenings and haircuts in addition to dispensing deworming prescriptions for the children. The event culminated in more than 1,600 patient visits. Kota Kinabalu 2019.02.17 Reported by Ng Sow Kam & Sim Chai Huat Photograph by Tham Chee Hsung The students and teachers of several Tzu Chi Kindergartens in North Malaysia and Johor Bahru carried out an “Ethical Eating Challenge” as part of their initiative to promote vegetarianism, complemented by the “Vegetarian Passport” to record their vegetarian meal intake. The students contributed in various capacities in organizing the launching ceremony of the programme, including staging a play and preparing vegetarian dishes. Two weeks later, they successfully completed the challenge after observing a vegetarian diet for 30 days, totalling 90 vegetarian meals. The students of Tzu Chi Kindergarten Bayan Lepas even reached out to the public by raising awareness on vegetarianism in public parks and wet markets in the vicinity. Kindergarteners PromoteVegetarianism through Ethical Eating Challenge Penang 2019.03.04 – 03.19 Reported by Ooi Yi Qing Photograph by Chan Heng Seong Preserving the Health of Kampung NumbakVillagers