The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.111)

2019 • 06 38 ocal News TheMinistry of Housing and Local Government of Malaysia organized a 2-dayKampungBaruVillage Community Management Council Empowerment Convention at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre to encourage collaborative efforts in stimulating the development of New Villages and foster closer engagement with New Village communities. The event was attended by more than 600 representatives from the management councils of New Villages across the nation, as well as subject matter experts and scholars who shared their insights on various related topics, including community planning, community education and the cultivation of the reading habit among the community. Volunteer Sio Kee Hong presented Tzu Chi’s perspective on environmental conservation and sustainability, to which some attendees responded positively by appealing to New Village management councils to allocate space in their respective communities to accommodate Tzu Chi’s recycling efforts. KL & Selangor 2019.04.28 Reported by Ng Cau Hong Photograph by Kow Yew Boon Tzu Chi volunteers were invited to attend the graduation ceremony of Madrasah Hashimiah, a religious school in Selayang for Myanmarese refugees to which Tzu Chi has been providing support for over 15 years. TheTzuChi Teachers’ Association conducts Mandarin lessons at the school to equip students with basic Mandarin proficiency in reading, listening and writing to give them a competitive edge and boost communication skills with the acquisition of a foreign language. During the ceremony, the graduands performed a lyrical sign language routine to a Chinese song. The school is currently planning to organize vocational training programmes to enable students to acquire practical skills alongside academic-based knowledge to enhance their employability post-graduation. Celebrating a New Milestone in Life for Refugee Students KL & Selangor 2019.04.18 Reported by Lim Chin Lan Photograph by Loh Hon Fui & Ng Kee Seng Breathing Life into NewVillages