The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.128)

TZU CHI 128 37 S ituated by Sungai Beban in Kota Tinggi, SJK(T) Ladang Sungai Papan is a small- scale primary school with only seven students – two Indian and five biracial children of Chinese and indigenous Orang Seletar. In early 2020, P. Thenmoly, the school headmaster, requested her teachers to seek help from Tzu Chi Kota Tinggi for education subsidies for the underprivileged students. Hence, accompanied by the teachers, Tzu Chi volunteers visited each of the families. After their assessments, Tzu Chi offered the subsidies to six students, and will extend care especially to the indigenous people living in crude floating wooden houses and relying on the sea for sustenance. On August 31, Malaysia’s National Day, after an hour journey through rugged palm oil estate to Sungai Beban, volunteers had to cross a shaky wooden bridge to reach the families. Besides giving face masks and hand sanitizers to the indigenous people, each student beneficiary was given a bamboo bank and encouraged to save some coins daily to help others like themselves. Kota Tinggi 2020.10.11 Reported and photograph by Tsze Hut Sea Love and Care to the Indigenous People ocal News Translated by Lee You Ning