The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.112)

TZU CHI 112 33 Note: The Age Treasury, originally introduced as the Age Bank, is conceived by Master Cheng Yen, who elaborated on the concept during the Year-end Blessing Ceremony held on 21 January 2018 at Banqiao, Taiwan for recycling volunteers. The Master advised the elderly volunteers to symbolically deposit 50 years of their actual age in the Age Treasury as a reminder that age is not an obstacle to one’s efforts in protecting the environment and cultivating one’s wisdom. Seniors also benefit from leveraging their wealth of experience that comes with age to nurture the next generation. Len, she compensates for her shortcomings at her workplace. She has worked in various companies, but remained consistent in her habit of gathering and sorting recyclables from the office before entrusting them to volunteers. Decades have passed since Choy Len’s first foray into recycling work, yet she is far from resting on her laurels, be it practising recycling at work or serving at the neighbourhood recycling point. To her, environmental conservation is a long-term mission with no definite deadline. She has pledged to defend the cause for as long as the Earth is threatened by environmental pollution. She also aspires to spread greater awareness on the importance of environmental conservation. OnRecyclingDays, shewould collect recyclables from nearby shops and restaurants after completing her recycling duties at the recycling point. Initially, she found it unnerving to convince the shopkeepers to surrender their recyclables, but with practice, she warmed up to the retail staff, who gradually became more receptive towards her requests. Choy Len never tires of hauling around recyclables in a trolley despite perspiring profusely. The heartening response from the community has made all her efforts worthwhile, motivating her to expand her reach by approaching local residents to join the recycling movement. Whenever she hears Grandma Say and Kan Len voice their concerns about ageing and illnesses in old age, she would encourage them to symbolically deposit 50 years of their age in theAge Treasury. “NowGrandma Say is 31 years old, Kan Len is 23 and I’m only 14. Who says we’re old?” teased Choy Len. Indeed, the trio is youthful in spirit, young at heart – and their zeal for recycling still burns bright. Grandma Say (left), 81; Yong Kan Len (middle), 73; and Lee Choy Len (right), 64, are close recycling partners and even closer friends. Staying Active and Alert through Recycling Work