The world of Tzu Chi May-June 2022 (Vol.141)

TZU CHI 141 45 Siti Rahayu does not only join volunteers in recycling activities, but also donates money she has saved up in her coin bank for charity. [Photo courtesy of Chua Yih Tan] the dry weather. She raced against time and tried to harvest as fast as possible despite observing Ramadan fast. Making the greatest effort as a mother Tzu Chi volunteers offered her support as she strived to fend for her family. For example, when her farm produced excess demand, volunteers would go over to her farm and buy vegetables from her at market price. Also, noticing her happy-go-lucky nature, they guided her to carry out crop rotation to preserve soil health. Earlier, they even taught her how to plan out her revenue and expenses. Even though she is no longer a Tzu Chi care recipient, volunteers have continued to care for her when her farm was flooded, but the only occasion she accepted an emergency cash aid from Tzu Chi was when she suffered a huge loss of crops. In fact, she requested Tzu Chi to stop providing financial assistance on the second year of her being a care recipient, as she had become more settled in life. Nonetheless, considering that she was still not financially stable, the volunteers handed her a bamboo coin bank for her to save up and reciprocate in the form of donation instead. She has donated several times since then. In addition, she would also volunteer at Tzu Chi recycling point on recycling day, as her way of expressing her gratitude. She said, “I am fortunate to have met so many benevolent people, including Tzu Chi volunteers, who have helped and befriended me. Even though I am not so capable, they care about me all the same. So, I am very happy every time I see them.” To the volunteers, Siti’s cheerful smile is the best part of her nature. She is also smart, hardworking, positive and a tough cookie. Amazingly, she has even learned to speak some simple Mandarin. She has mentioned time and again that she likes to do vegetable farming because the flourishing greens and the trees full of fruits give her a sense of reward. Additionally, good harvest means good income, with which she would be able to plan a good future for her son, seven-year-old Ahmad Arrafiq Jamali bin Bura’i. Siti once had a chance to return to Indonesia with funding from the Malacca Islamic Religious Council (MAIM). However, she rather gave up the rare opportunity after taking into consideration the citizen status of her son, who was born in Malaysia. When the volunteers asked about her future, she replied, “What is okay for my son is also okay for me.” Her son is the centre of her life. As a mother, Siti apparently has and will brave any challenges and do all she could, to ensure his wellbeing.