The world of Tzu Chi January 2021 (Vol.130)

2021 • 01 22 eature Heartfelt companionship Yap Chee Ming’s family felt the warmth and caring affection of Tzu Chi volunteers, while the volunteers admired the family’s positivity. T he first impression of Brickfields, also known as Little India, for any visitor is the many Indian restaurants and shops, as well as the over 20 blind massage parlors. It was estimated that more than a thousand visually impaired individuals once worked and lived here. One of them is 76-year-oldYapCheeMing, a beneficiary of the “Kita1Keluarga” relief programme. The family of four live on the upper floor of a shophouse. When volunteers arrived at their doorsteps, Ho Sook Kuen greeted Chee Ming, who replied loudly, “You’re Ms. Ho, aren’t you?” His acute hearing surprised everyone. Chee Ming, who has lost his vision for nearly 50 years, let out a smile and said, “I’ve gotten used to recognizing people by their voices. When your body loses one sense, one of the other senses will be heightened. In fact, my fingers are particularly By Chan Shi Yih Translated by Jilly Bong Photograph by Leong Chian Yee