Ms Lucy Ng engrossed with her recycling work at the Tzu Chi Eco-Awareness Centre. (Photo by Chan May Ching)
The volunteers have already left for the day but Ms Lucy Ng continues to remain behind at the Tzu Chi Eco-Awareness Centre located in Woodlands. With one hand holding a wet cloth, she goes around wiping and disinfecting the areas that the volunteers have come into contact with during the course of the day. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, extra precautions have had to be taken for the safety of everyone. While this also means extra work for Ms Ng, it does not seem to bother her, as she continues her duties without a hint of complaint.
This might be a simple scene but it perfectly epitomised Ms Ng’s commendable spirit throughout her time at the Centre. An ardent environmental volunteer, she first started out her recycling journey as part of the Residents’ Committee (RC) back in 2007, helping to lead recycling efforts right under her block. During one of the community outreach projects, Tzu Chi volunteers were involved and it was then when she started becoming more aware of the organisation and what it stood for.
Subsequently, she started to volunteer with Tzu Chi but was largely inactive in the years between 2008 and 2014 as she continued her own recycling efforts outside. However, when the Centre opened in 2014, on persuasion by her friend from Tzu Chi, her involvement with the organisation’s recycling efforts started to gain momentum.
“Brother Chin Seng was constantly telling me that the Centre was very near my house and if not for him, I might not have returned to Tzu Chi,” said the 58-year-old. “The environment and climate have been declining so I just wanted to do something for society. I also grew up poor so doing recycling resonates with me as it helps to save things.”
And after this decision to return to help out with the Centre, she has not looked back since, demonstrating her fierce commitment and dedication to the environment at every opportunity. She goes to the Centre two to three times a week, mainly helping out with the sorting of recyclables, coordinating of volunteers as well as any general chores.
Ms Ng’s neighbours are also aware of her environmental efforts and would often drop off used items at her home. She would then diligently do the sorting and carry the bags of recyclables to the Centre. Occasionally, on seeing suitable recyclable items along the way, she would also take the extra effort to pick them up. In the past, the use of trolleys was even required due to the sheer volume of recyclables she collected.
Ms Ng going about her cleaning and disinfecting duties at the Centre. (Photo by Chan May Ching)
Ms Ng and other volunteers hard at work sorting paper recyclables at the Centre. (Photo by Chan May Ching)
Devotion and Dedication
Ms Ng’s devotion to the Centre and environment has not gone unnoticed, with volunteers and staff attesting to her passion and enjoying her presence.
“She is someone who’s very responsible. When it comes to protecting the environment, she is not afraid of getting her hands dirty, often willing to stay at the Centre till late to finish the work,” shared Ms Wong Sin Hwa, who is Tzu Chi’s environmental sustainability staff. “She also takes good care of the senior volunteers and would often encourage them to take part in Tzu Chi activities, keeping them both physically and mentally healthy.
Mdm Ang Siew Khim is one of the senior volunteers who has worked closely with Ms Ng over the years and she concurred: “I’m very happy to be able to work with her and we would go for activities together. Time passes very fast when I come here, otherwise I would be very bored at home.”
Despite the praises lavished on her for her tireless efforts, Ms Ng has remained humble throughout. Even though she has been acknowledged as the volunteer-in-charge of the Centre, she maintained that it is merely a title and all she wanted was to fulfil a promise to Master Cheng Yen.
“When I attended the 4-in-1 Cadre Camp in Taiwan, I made a vow to Master that I would take good care of the Eco-Awareness Centre as long as I’m around,” Ms Ng explained. “The title of volunteer-in-charge is just a name, they can call it anything but I’m just focused on doing my part.”
Influence Beyond the Centre
Beyond the Centre, Ms Ng has also had a lasting impact on the close ones around her, introducing them to the Centre as well as the importance of taking care of the wider environment as a whole. Her husband Mr Lee Kong Wai is one of those who has been positively influenced, regularly following Ms Ng to the Centre.
“I think her passion for the Centre is very good as it involves helping the society. Ever since she started going to the Centre, her environmental awareness has improved a lot and I think she has learnt many things there,” said the 60-year-old, who works as an operator at an electronics factory. “I followed her lead in going to the Eco-Awareness Centre and I too became more aware of environmental protection and how I can help.”
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Ms Ng and her husband, Mr Lee Kong Wai in the midst of sorting recyclables at home. (Photo by Chan May Ching) -
The couple pushing trolleys of recyclables to the Centre. (Photo by Chan May Ching) -
Ms Ng stopping to pick up an aluminium can en-route to the Centre. (Photo by Chan May Ching)
Similarly, her younger of two sons has been influenced by her love for the environment and would occasionally help out with recycling efforts at the Centre as well. Besides her family members, the two young children, who she has been taking care of in her role as a part-time babysitter, have benefitted as well. With Ms Ng allocating various areas in her house to facilitate the sorting of different recyclables, the children have become so adept in the sorting process that they now take the initiative to do it without being instructed.
“I do teach the young ones at home about the environment and recycling. The youngest one would often be very excited to show me how he does the sorting,” Ms Ng mused. “We have different areas in the house for different items such as paper, plastic and aluminium. After teaching, it has become natural for them and they don’t really find it troublesome.”
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Ms Ng doing the sorting of recyclables at home together with the two children that she babysits. (Photo by Pan Hui Wen) -
Ms Ng also tries to protect the environment through other means such as reusing laundry water for other purposes. (Photo by Chan May Ching) -
Urban farming was also picked up by Ms Ng as a hobby due to her exposure to farming as a child growing up in a kampong. (Photo by Chan May Ching)
While Ms Ng’s main environmental work revolves around the Centre, it is clear that her influence transcends beyond the physical boundaries of it. Whether it’s her family members or Tzu Chi volunteers or even the children she is babysitting, each and every one of them has been impacted in a positive way. With the imminent closure of the Centre, Ms Ng is undoubtedly disappointed but remains ever determined to press on with her environmental efforts.
She said: “There have been so many memorable moments here where we would celebrate occasions such as birthdays and reunion dinners. This is not just a place for recycling. It is a home and there is a great sense of belonging here.
“I feel that it’s a huge pity that the Centre is going to close but I will still continue with my recycling efforts. We simply can’t just dispose of our items without sorting them properly.”
Ms Ng’s sense of responsibility for the environment over the years has indeed been admirable. While the Centre might no longer be physically around come next month, so long as the spirit of dedicated volunteers like Ms Ng remains, the battle to protect our ailing Mother Earth will long continue.
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