Holding a newly taken photograph with the words, "I'm here!" I’ll do it!”, volunteers hope that everyone will join hands in encouraging one other on this journey of kindness. (Photo by Lee Foo Tien)
"Just do it if it is a good deed. The more we do, the happier we will be."
During the founding years of Tzu Chi in Singapore, under the guidance of the first leader, Liu Gui Ying (now Master Ming Jing), 78-year-old Lee Hong Noi joined Pao Kwan Foh Tang to support Tzu Chi. At the end of 1998, Tzu Chi relocated to its former site at Lai Chun Yuen in Chinatown and she continued to volunteer as a cook for years.
"In the past, it was very busy from morning till night when we organised charity fair in Chinatown. We were constantly moving up and down three storeys while children's classes and programmes for Tzu Chi youths and care activities for elderly living alone were held simultaneously.” As though she was taken down memory lane, Lee Hong Noi happily recalled the grand occasions during those busy but fulfilling days.
Volunteer Tan Gek (second from left) accompanied Lee Hong Noi (middle) to Jing Si Hall today to enjoy the food and feel the joy at the Volunteer Appreciation Night. (Photo by Ng Hock Soon)
To take care of her husband, Lee Hong Noi was unable to participate in Tzu Chi activities for three years. Although she lives in Bukit Panjang which is far away from Jing Si Hall, she still actively participates in community activities including environmental protection activities and charity home visits.
On 22 September 2024, Tan Gek, a volunteer from the same community, accompanied Lee Hong Noi to Jing Si Hall to enjoy the food and feel the joy at the 31st Anniversary Volunteer Appreciation Night. Tan Gek also encouraged Lee Hong Noi, whom is a grandmother with four generations at home, to embrace the Jing Si Aphorism she drew: “May we do good with compassion and bring blessings to all. May we conduct ourselves with wisdom and pass on virtue”. Stay healthy and do good deeds till old age.”
The Volunteer Appreciation Night was held in a buffet dinner setting with dining areas set up throughout Jing Si Hall including the rear parking lot, the multi-purpose classroom on the first floor and the flower arrangement room on the second floor. (Photo by Donn Tan)
Hand in hand, we thrive and grow
After enjoying a delicious dinner, the volunteers settled in to watch the programme. The opening drum performance was presented by alumni of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool. The drum performance music was named "Original Aspiration", symbolising local Tzu Chi volunteers staying true to their mission in Singapore for over 31 years.
What was even more special about this appreciation night was that guests from as far away as Taiwan were present to grace the event and extend their well wishes to Tzu Chi in the Lion City. Among them were Master De Di and Master De Tai, both directors of Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore), Yan Bo-wen, CEO of Tzu Chi Charity Foundation of Taiwan, and nine speakers from Taiwan.
The longevity peach cake was slowly pushed onto the stage and VIPs from Taiwan, Master De Di (fourth from left) and Master De Tai (third from left), CEO Yan Bo-wen (second from left), as well as Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore) CEO Low Swee Seh (fourth from right) and the Singapore management team, cut the cake together. (Photo by Lee Foo Tien)
All the volunteers in the audience singing the birthday song. (Photo by Donn Tan)
Speaking at the ceremony, Low Swee Seh, the CEO of Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore), said, "Over the past 31 years, if we had only focused on maintaining one Jing Si Hall, we would not have been able to witness the participation of so many volunteers today. Therefore, it is important that we develop more establishments and attract more people to join Tzu Chi.”
Low Swee Seh expressed his gratitude for the great wisdom of Master Cheng Yen in founding Tzu Chi's four major missions, which attract volunteers of all ages. From teenagers to the elderly, everyone can find a way to contribute. He added, "In the future, our goal is to make Tzu Chi visible throughout Singapore, and this requires the cooperation and commitment of all staff and volunteers.”
Yan Bo-wen who joined Tzu Chi first in Singapore, praised the prosperity and vitality of Singapore, emphasising that the journey has not been an easy one. “Singapore's rapid development is inseparable from a series of right decisions made by the government. Similarly, the vigorous growth of Tzu Chi in Singapore reflects the many wise choices made by the team.”
Yan Bo-wen also shared that he felt very strongly on this visit to Singapore how determined the Tzu Chi volunteers in Singapore are in overcoming difficulties and challenges.
"I believe that Tzu Chi Singapore will serve as a role model for many overseas Tzu Chi branches and I hope that the first Tzu Chi International Youth Association (TIYA) will be held in Singapore." His blessing drew a warm applause from the audience.
"We are One Family" team activity led by (front row, from right) CEO Yan Bo-wen and CEO Low Swee Seh. (Photo by Donn Tan)
Caring for one another enables the Foundation to expand wider and go farther
Low Yen Lin, a new volunteer, commented with confidence: "Although I have only joined this year, I will progress quickly.” As a member of Great Love Mothers, she goes to the school every week to witness her children's growth, and leads activities at the Tzu Chi Seniors Engagement and Enabling Node (SEEN) every Tuesday.
When she was studying in Malaysia 29 years ago, Low Yen Lin participated in the Tzu Ching Camp twice. She still remembers the warm hug by the table leader who played the role of a mother during the camp, determined to pass that love on to more people. A self-confessed perfectionist, she was devoted to taking care of her family over the years and since her retirement, she has dedicated her time to Tzu Chi with a particular interest in caring for the elderly and children.
Previously, she was involved in the community organisation called GoodHood.SG, where she promoted the "kampong spirit" with volunteers from various ethnic groups. She noticed that most of the Tzu Chi volunteers were from the Chinese community. Thus, she took the initiative to introduce the head of GoodHood.SG to Tzu Chi's Deputy CEO Tan Chai Hoon, hoping to expand Tzu Chi's volunteer base to other ethnic groups.
When she learnt that the Junior College her child was attending planned to involve students in community service activities, she seized the opportunity. After gaining approval, she wrote a letter to the school principal recommending that the students visit SEEN to foster a more caring society. She also introduced Tzu Chi to the principal and gifted them the book titled “From Zero to One Love”, a collection of Tzu Chi teachings.
Despite being new to Tzu Chi, Low Yen Lin (second from the left) actively contributed to both the Great Love Mothers programme and SEEN senior activity centre. (Photo by Lee Foo Tien)
Despite wearing a back brace and carrying a walking stick, volunteer Lim Cheng Huay still passionately participated in Tzu Chi's 31st Anniversary Volunteer Appreciation Night. She forged a connection with Tzu Chi through the Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre in late 2019 and remained active in Tzu Chi’s work during the pandemic.
“In April this year, I decided to undergo two back surgeries to resolve an issue that had troubled me for years, hoping I could walk further along the Tzu Chi path,” Lim Cheng Huay recalled. During her recovery, the care from community volunteers not only warmed her heart but also touched her family. Volunteers even visited her in the hospital, and through this, the nurses became familiar with Tzu Chi as well.
Recently, Lim Cheng Huay resigned from her previous job and began working part-time at SEEN, dedicating more time to Tzu Chi. Coming from a less well-off background herself, Lim saw families in even more difficult situations during charity home visits, which made her even more grateful for her blessings and strengthened her resolve to continue her volunteer journey.
Despite wearing a back brace and carrying a walking stick, volunteer Lim Cheng Huay (third from the left) participated enthusiastically in the Appreciation Night. (Photo by Lee Foo Tien)
Tzu Chi staff getting everything ready to show appreciation to the volunteers
To ensure that more than 400 volunteers could attend the appreciation night with peace of mind, Tzu Chi staff worked together for the pre-event preparations. On the afternoon of 22 September 2024, about 70 staff members gathered at Jing Si Hall, engaging in various preparations - peeling pomelos, hanging lanterns, setting up tables and chairs, to ensure that the event could go smoothly.
Myint, a senior nurse who has worked at the Tzu Chi Renal Dialysis Centre for ten months, was helping with peeling pomelos. She shared how she was deeply touched by the kindness shown by the volunteers.
Originally from Myanmar, Myint has worked in dialysis centres for nearly 20 years. She said, “Tzu Chi not only provides better medical equipment, but also has many volunteers working alongside us, which I really appreciate and am grateful for.”
About 70 staff members gathered at Jing Si Hall to prepare for the Appreciation Night, peeling pomelos, hanging lanterns, and setting up tables and chairs. (Photo by Lee Foo Tien)
The most senior staff member, Pok Siew Chin, shared her heartfelt sentiments, "I have been working here for 27 years, and what I feel most is that everything has been truly worthwhile. Here, my contributions are valued and appreciated."
She described Tzu Chi as a “grand” organisation, in that it is not just the staff working together, but also a large group of dedicated volunteers who serve as a strong foundation. These volunteers are not merely doing good deeds, but they are carrying out Master Cheng Yen’s teachings with love in their hearts.
Pok Siew Chin deeply admires the volunteers' dedication and elaborated, "What is most precious is the volunteers' love, which is different from working outside. Here, we listen to Master Cheng Yen's teachings, and everyone leads by example, working together with tolerance, understanding, and love to get things done."
Tzu Chi’s most senior staff member, Pok Siew Chin (middle), also helped with the preparations. (Photo by Lee Foo Tien)
A call to do good together and make Singapore a more beautiful place
The Appreciation Night concluded with a blessing from Master De Di. Visiting for the first time, Master De Di shared that, as CEO Low Swee Seh mentioned, Tzu Chi’s 31-year development in Singapore was not achieved overnight but through consistent effort.
Master De Di recounted her visits to various Tzu Chi establishments over the past few days and was deeply moved. "What left the deepest impression on me was the Tzu Chi TCM Free Clinic (Khatib). I saw a volunteer in a vest holding a patient's hand, and in that moment, I could picture the same scene from Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital in my mind."
Master De Di’s sentiment stemmed from witnessing Tzu Chi’s spirit, which has not only spread to Singapore but also taken root here. The Master praised the volunteers and said, "Seeing the volunteers in Singapore humbly set aside their differences is truly hard to come by."
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