The world of Tzu Chi Apr-Jun 2023 (Vol.146)

13 TZU CHI 146 a group of refugee students from the Tzu-Chi Harmony Alternative Learning Centre. They presented to the audience a sign language rendition of the song “Hear My Thanks” and a spirited performance of the Eid al-Fitr song “Bersyukur Seadanya”. As the students sang and danced on stage, the audience clapped their hands, creating a joyous atmosphere. Juliza, a single mother from Sabah, raises her four children on her own. However, as her youngest son suffers from congenital hydrocephalus and requires her constant care, she is unable to leave the house for work. She shared, “Tzu Chi has helped us a lot, especially in terms of the children’s education. During the pandemic, they not only sent us two mobile phones equipped with data to enable the kids to continue their studies online, but they also enrolled the kids in the ‘i • didik’ (online tuition) programme, which has helped them make good progress. I feel really lucky. Thank you, Tzu Chi volunteers and teachers. You are great…” Ismail, whose wife was unwell, attended the event alone. He waved his bamboo bank on stage, sharing his thoughts of saving small money to do great things. “My wife and I came to know Tzu Chi when our lives were at the most challenging. With the volunteers’ care and company, we realised that we should not only think about our own sufferings, because there are many more who are in worse situations and need our help.” Ismail, who walked heavily on crutches, is a survivor of colorectal cancer. After watching scenes of various sufferings in the footage, he expressed his gratitude to have overcome the illness in his octogenarian years, with support and guidance from the volunteers. He shared, “Volunteers not only assisted us with accessing social resources and arranging a wheelchair, but they also provided motivation. I personally experienced it – Tzu Chi reaches out to people regardless of colour and religion.” As the ceremony came to an end, the refugee students once again took to the stage, and together with a group of Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth (Tzu Ching) members surrounding the audience, they performed a sign language rendition of the Malay version of the song “One Family”. Their synchronised movements and the touching song captivated the audience, and many joined in the performance. Following that, the care recipients were divided into two groups – one to watch a skit on vegetarianism, another to have a hands- on experience in classifying recyclables. The light-hearted and lively skit performed by the Tzu Ching members, highlighting the importance of consuming more fruits and vegetables, was amusing and entertaining. Enjoy delicious food and a rewarding experience No festive celebration is complete without a delicious meal. Volunteers thoughtfully prepared a variety of Halal traditional Malay vegetarian dishes, including nasi tomato , tempeh rendang , vegetarian lontong , roti jala , pastries and others. Everyone enjoyed the meal. After the meal, the care recipients made their way to the preloved corner to pick their choice of clothes and dolls. The children’s faces lit up with joy as they received Bobo balloons featuring different cartoon characters. The care recipients left Jing Si Hall happily with an Eid al-Fitr gift bag loaded with Jing-Si products and their newly captured family portrait.