The world of Tzu Chi March-April 2022 (Vol.140)

2022 • 04 10 pecial Feature supermarket for a more stable income, and not to be like me, labouring long hours outdoors. I also told them that as long as they want to study, I am willing to do any work no matter how hard it is…” Sivakumar is not the only one trapped in the endless struggle of forking out an honest living against the odds in life. Behind the veil of a seemingly busy and prosperous city, there are many who are like him, struggling to live their dreams, however small they may be. To make ends meet, Sivakumar did all he could to get any job available when there were no tents to be set up. He earned about RM30 to RM50 per day for an odd job. He understood that with the pandemic still looming, his siblings might not be able to help him. The tough times have tested his strength. Braced with determination and hope, he would continue to strive as long as he could provide for his family. “When there is enough, we could all get fed; but if there is not enough for all, I would rather not have any. It is alright for me to go hungry, but never so for my family. If I get a job, I would buy roti canai (Indian pancakes) for their breakfast. If I have a little extra, I would buy their favourite fried noodles or fried rice for dinner. Although they get to enjoy such treats only once in a month or two, at least it is my promise of a feast,” said Sivakumar with a smile. Make or break – it is all for the family Sivakumar’s means of transport is the motorcycle that has served him for more than ten years. It had broken down, and he was desperately looking for odd jobs to cough up a few hundred Ringgits to fix it. When he was offered a frame installation job by volunteer Koh Chuan Gea, he responded immediately. He was ready to learn. “I thought I was to build tents. Well, never mind, I just take it as a chance to learn another skill for a living. In fact, sometimes the tents I built could be taller than the iron frames. The time I took to build an iron frame was enough for me to complete two tents,” said Sivakumar jokingly. All that mattered to this doting father was to get some extra income for emergencies. Sivakumar managed to secure work for 11 days in February. He earned RM50 per day. So, he only had RM550 for his February income. Friends who knew the situation would always look out for him and notify him of any job opening. “If I do not get a job, no one is going to give me money. The children are young, and what if any of them gets sick? What could I do? Also, there is bound to be maintenance expenses.” His priority has always been the well-being of his family and that did pull heartstrings, especially among the volunteers. Eng Foo is the leader of the volunteer group handling Sivakumar’s case. Being a husband and a father himself, he was deeply humbled by Sivakumar’s story; the latter loves his children so much that he is prepared to go to any lengths for them. “When I saw the container house the family live in, I could not imagine how it could be still happening in the 21st century, although such was a common sight in the 1980s,” Eng Foo shared.