The world of Tzu Chi February 2020 (Vol.119)

2020 • 02 16 eature Enriching lives through art Ean Nee arranged for a collection of artworks by the residents to be exhibited at the National Art Gallery on April 8, 2019. In addition, she sought approval from the settlement authorities to repurpose the Travers School into an art gallery as a platform to permanently showcase the works of resident artists. The Valley of Hope Art Gallery was launched on November 2, 2019 with creations by 55 resident artists on display, each depicting the residents’ personal journey from social isolation to recovery and reintegration into society. She observed, “The introduction of the arts breathed new life into the settlement. We’re also trying to appeal to the younger generation by educating them on the legacy of the settlement through art and storytelling.” Since 2017, Care &Share Circle has been organizing charity drives to raise funds for charitable causes through the sale of artworks by the settlement’s resident artists. Last year, proceeds from the sales of the artworks were donated to the Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple in Sentul to support its operations. “Immersion in art is a meaningful process that enables the residents to discover their potential to live a full life and overcome feelings of dejection and inadequacy arising from their physical disabilities,” said Ean Nee. Touching lives with compassion The students of Tzu Chi Da Ai Kindergarten once visited the settlement with their parents to provide massages to the elderly residents. Ean Nee opined that such visits facilitate positive exchanges between all parties involved; the young ones are able to learn about leprosy through the proper platform, while rapport is established between the parents and the residents when interacting with each other. One of the parents even contacted Ean Nee after the visit and offered to present a wayang kulit or puppet shadow performance to the residents. “This is an unexpected development that I haven’t foreseen when I first set foot in the settlement 13 years ago. The settlement has transformed from a land of desolation dependent on government support to a thriving community whose lives have transformed for the better. When the residents take the initiative to help others, the settlement begins to radiate hope and positivity,” Ean Nee reflected.