The world of Tzu Chi Nov-Dec 2022 (Vol.144)

2022 • 12 14 pecial Feature By Ho Sook Yin Translated by Yew Siew Yong Photo by Chew Chin Wah Not one less I am also a mother, with similar hope that my children can obtain a complete education. This is especially so for the disadvantaged groups. Only education can bring hope to these families. W an Pak Mooi has short and slightly curly hair. Straight-talking in nature and when not smiling, her bossy appearance belies her compassionate and tender heart. More than a year ago, Pak Mooi first started assuming the leader role for charity cases and visited care recipient Vickneswary’s home. While she could bear with the cluttered environment, dim lighting, mottled walls, and kids frolicking around, she found it consuming to communicate with the care recipient, as she could not speak the Malay language well. She recounted, “I felt sorry to see the mother in her 30s relying only on subsidies from Tzu Chi and the Social Welfare Department to feed her five children, as her addicted husband was frequently in and out of prison. Also, her eldest son had learning disorder, and her youngest daughter was unable to walk and had lost her vision. She was sure to suffer physically and mentally without care from others. As such, I decided to just give my best to care for this family.” Together with two team members, Pak Mooi began to pay regular visits and care for Vickneswary’s family. Occasionally, theywould