The World Of Tzu Chi March 2025 (Vol.153)

TZU CHI 153 23 launched the “Loving Stores” programme, encouraging businesses to invite their customers to donate spare change into bamboo banks provided by Tzu Chi. Volunteers would then regularly return to participating stores to collect the donations. The goal is to introduce Tzu Chi to the community and inspire compassionate actions, thereby creating a loving community. For Sister Chin, who hardly interacts with people outside her neighbourhood, this was a challenge. Furthermore, her limited proficiency in English and Malay made her nervous about engaging with non-Chinese business owners. To support her, Suet Ngoh and fellow volunteers guided her through the process, showing her around the stores in her neighbourhood. Sister Chin followed closely, speaking little but observing how the volunteers communicated with the store owners. Just as she had done more than nine years ago when she first joined Tzu Chi, she often observed and learned from fellow volunteers, blossoming slowly like a flower. Having dedicated years to Tzu Chi’s mission, Sister Chin was finally ready to take the next step. On December 9, 2024, she flew to Taiwan to receive Master’s blessings and be officially certified as a Tzu Chi Commissioner. Looking back, she laughed at the worries that once held her back. “I used to worry that I wouldn’t look elegant enough in the Commissioner’s cheongsam, and there are many reports to write – it’s intimidating!” But in the end, she took the leap, embracing the role with the same wholehearted dedication that has defined her journey. Like a firefly, although the glow may seem faint, it shines with purpose, illuminating not only the lives of others, but also her own heart. Besides participating in various activities, Sister Chin also engages in volunteer training to continuously learn and improve herself. [Photo by Chew Chin Wah] Watch the video: