The world of Tzu Chi July 2020 (Vol.124)

TZU CHI 124 41 Reported by Tzu Chi Documenting Team Translated by Translating Team Photograph courtesy of Tzu Chi Singapore I n a collective effort to care for migrant workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, Tzu Chi Singapore initiated a mask sewing project with the support of Maybank Singapore. An online joint press conference was held on June 5, 2020 to hand over 13,200 handmade fabric face masks to a representative from the Migrant Workers’ Centre to be distributed to migrant workers. Since early April 2020, Tzu Chi Singapore has been collaborating with CYC Tailor to produce the first four batches of fabric face masks, totalling 41,346 pieces. Maybank Singapore came on board for the fifth and final batch by sponsoring materials and mobilizing their staff to sew fabric face masks alongside 391 community volunteers. A total of 54,546 handmade cloth masks were produced for Migrant Workers’ Centre. Tzu Chi Singapore has been looking after the welfare of migrant workers since the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak by helping to furnish workers’ dormitories, distributing care packages and relief supplies to migrant workers and extending care to the staff of workers’ dormitories. To further integrate migrant workers into the local community, Tzu Chi Singapore partnered with 3Pumpkins CommunityArts Lab and local artist Jimmy Ong to launch an art project titled “Stay Home Quilt”. The art project aimed to provide a medium for migrant workers to share their life experiences and express their emotions during the Covid-19 outbreak through the act of sewing and self-reflection. Each participant received a sewing kit to create patterns on a piece of upcycled denim fabric and share their inspiration or story behind the creation through pen and paper. As a gesture of appreciation for the contributions of migrant workers in Singapore, Tzu Chi Singapore collected the fabric artworks of 550 migrant workers to be patched together into a commemorative art piece to be displayed at the Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre. Singapore 2020.06.05 Moral Support for Migrant Workers lobal News