The world of Tzu Chi December 2023 (Vol.148)

2023 • 12 16 pecial Feature By Kong Siew Yen Compiled by Yi-Qin Translated by Lim Wen-Xin Photo by Kiing Teck Ngie “I f you switch from casually discarding plastics bottles to collecting and handing them over to volunteers, Tzu Chi can use the proceeds from selling the bottles for charitable purposes, and that is a good deed done.” During the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, Tzu Chi volunteers in Sandakan did not abandon the stateless villagers. Instead, they ventured into 47 communities, visited and registered thousands of stateless households. They then distributed daily necessities to the needy families to relieve their hardship, and thus developed a positive relationship with the communities. Since then, the volunteers not only provide regular care, supplies and medical assistance, but also promote recycling initiatives. Due to the absence of legal documents, the villagers are deprived of access to education and medical benefits. They live in makeshift stilt houses built along the coast, where clean water is scarce. Devoid of running water supply, bottled drinking water becomes a daily necessity. Instead of paying for expensive The significance of environmental protection may initially appear remote to the stateless communities in Sandakan, Sabah. However, fuelled by a sense of gratitude and appreciation, they have embarked on recycling initiatives to repay the assistance received from Tzu Chi during the pandemic. Anyone Can Recycle