The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.116)

2019 • 11 34 ocal News Translated by Translating Team In line with the Head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis’ call to step up environmental conservation efforts, the 171-year-old Church of The Visitation hosted talks on the topic which were conducted over two sessions in three languages. Twenty-one Seremban-based Tzu Chi volunteers were invited to a Sunday School session to share knowledge on environmental conservation and waste classification. A total of 750 primary and secondary school students, parents and church members attended the talks. The first session was presented in Mandarin by a Tzu Chi volunteer and interpreted into Tamil by a church member of Indian ethnicity, while the second session was delivered in English by the volunteers. Furthermore, the volunteers guided the attendees in sorting recyclables brought from home, which were later donated to Tzu Chi. Church pastor Rev. Fr. George Harrison observed that the younger generation’s greater capacity for absorbing knowledge, coupled with their adeptness at using technology to share their acquired knowledge with family and friends, is advantageous in spreading the message on environmental conservation. He remarked, “The talks on environmental conservation represent an expression of love for God and His creations. Tzu Chi’s contributions to society have been a constant source of motivation for me.” Wong Siew Lan, who served as the coordinator for the event, would offer the garage in front of her shop to Tzu Chi volunteers every month to be utilized as a recycling point. Her confidence in Tzu Chi’s recycling efforts led her to contact Tzu Chi to explore opportunities for collaboration that transcend religious borders. Meanwhile, David Nonis, a church member, commented, “Religion guides us towards performing kind deeds and pursuing the path of virtue, deterring us from committing crimes. The church hopes to convey the importance of environmental conservation to fellow church members through these talks and at the same time, instil in them knowledge on proper recycling practices.” Seremban 2019.10.06 Reported by Tzu Chi Documenting Team Photograph by Siow Yau Chu Setting Aside Differences to Save the Environment