The world of Tzu Chi September 2020 (Vol.126)

04 eature By Yap Chai Hoon Translated by Translating Team Photographs by Sam Pin Fook From Taiwan to Malaysia Tzu Chi’s Three Decades of Recycling “Please do recycling with your hands that you use for clapping.” A gentle request by Master Cheng Yen 30 years ago, has led many people in dedicating themselves to care for Earth. In 1995, Tzu Chi’s recycling mission began in Malacca. Despite the challenging start especially with limited manpower and resources, the volunteers persevered, and today, Tzu Chi has set up over 100 recycling centres and 800 recycling points across Malaysia to raise environmental awareness so as to get everyone on board to play their part. In a multi-racial country like Malaysia, theTzu Chi volunteers comprised people from various religious backgrounds, age groups and social statuses. The moment one sets foot in a recycling centre, whether one is an elderly, a homemaker, a working professional, a businessman or a diplomat, one plays the role as a recycling volunteer, fulfilling one’s responsibility as an inhabitant of Earth.