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

2025 • 03 26 resembled a well-organised colony of ants, working tirelessly to restore a liveable space for the elderly family. The conditions inside were challenging – unpleasant odours filled the air, and cockroaches and mice scurried about, eliciting startled reactions from volunteers. Rotten furniture, grime-laden kitchenware, a collapsed sink, and dented drainage pipes added to the difficulties. Yet, undeterred by the daunting task, the volunteers pressed on, first removing stacks of old newspapers and miscellaneous items blocking the entrance. Due to limited space inside the house, volunteers used trolleys to transport bagged items over 100 metres to a sorting station beneath a nearby pedestrian bridge. Passers-by watched curiously as a team of more than 60 people sorted through the items. As they carefully examined the discarded belongings, they found hidden treasures – money, rings, valuable old stamps, and three small boxes filled with personal mementoes. Grandma Ng’s face lit up as she received these unexpected keepsakes. Inside the house, volunteers formed a human chain to efficiently pass out items before cleaning the floor, washing bathrooms, and scrubbing kitchen walls. They also purchased and installed a new storage rack, a kitchen sink, and other kitchen tools to improve functionality. After nearly six hours of work from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the ground floor was finally restored to a clean and orderly state. The sorting team leader, Ong Pang Chye, estimated that old newspapers made up nearly 80 per cent of the collected waste, weighing over 5,000 kilogrammes, some dating back more than 40 years. Ameaningful Sunday Lai Wei Heong, a salesperson, learned The three elderly people lived amid piles of clutter, raising serious hygiene concerns. Tzu Chi mobilised more than 100 volunteers to create a safer and more comfortable home for them.