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

2022 • 04 16 pecial Feature Dictated by Norshila binti Ahmad Azizi (Beneficiary) Record and photo by Lee Lay Sim Translated by Jilly Bong What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger We are grateful for the volunteers’ kindness. Despite having different skin tones, the same blood runs in us. We are different but the same. T he rain continued to pour, and the alley began to flood. I texted the Tzu Chi volunteer ahead of our meeting, and reminded them to put on slippers to avoid getting their shoes wet. Immediately, I informed my daughter, “Some visitors will come to see us later! They are here to help us.” She heard what I said, but she had no idea what I was talking about. “Mum, why are they here to help us?” she asked rhetorically. “Didn’t you always make us go out of our way to help others?” I have no idea how to explain to my seven-year-old daughter that her father was unemployed! Although I still had a job, the family’s income had plummeted. For the time being, we were unable to assist others. My husband lost his job as a result of the pandemic. We had to dismiss the nanny in order to save money. At the same time, we attempted to sell cookies and detox products online. Everything—from order management to restocking, packaging and delivery—was A volunteer introducing Tzu Chi to Norshila’s husband, Mohamad Iqpal, who was surprised to discover that it was the organization that had extended aid to his parents-in-law earlier.