The wheelchair-bound Madam Jaya played the tambourine and sang a self-composed song “Be Strong,” sharing with her fellow care recipients her resilient attitude towards life. (Photo by Zeng Mei Zhen)
Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore) volunteers who carry out home visits use love over the long-term to care for their beneficiaries. Taking into consideration that some care recipients face various difficulties in getting around by themselves outside of the home, entrepreneur volunteers from Tzu Chi ferry them to and from the venue every charity distribution day. Other volunteers put in much effort to plan for the day’s activities so as to allow the care recipients to feel the warmth of home and momentarily forget their worries.
Tzu Chi Singapore’s sixth charity distribution event of the year was held on 9 November 2014, and 243 care recipients from all over the island and their families came over to the Jing Si Hall. On this day, volunteers used their voices in song to keep care recipients company; their love filled the hall and their sincerity brought a ray of light into the often troubled lives of beneficiaries.
When We Get Together, Love Fills Our Hearts
“We as charity volunteers are always seeking to improve, and hope that every time we organize a charity distribution day we can do it better and better, turning it into a day that our care recipients look forward to immensely,” said senior home visit volunteer Zeng Jin’e and the event’s overall coordinator with a happy smile.
Once the event began Zeng never stopped bustling about; one moment she was settling event details, the next, she was called over to solve issues which had suddenly cropped up when wheelchair bound care recipients arrived at the venue. Many volunteers would also look for her to ask for her advice on decisions, so she was extremely busy throughout. However, the radiant smile never left her face and once the lively performances of sign language and song started on stage, she could even blend in seamlessly and join her fellow volunteers in song! The atmosphere was a very carefree one, bringing to mind what Master Cheng Yen often says: “Bodhisattvas serve with joy and ease.”
The afternoon was fairly warm, and the 225 volunteers that had gathered in and out of the Jing Si Hall included some who had even spent their morning at their own neighbourhoods helping out in Tzu Chi’s monthly recycling efforts. Even after caring for our Earth, they did not forget to head over to show the same love to care recipients.
Under the blazing sun, volunteers supported each other as they carried out their respective responsibilities. The venue was dotted with volunteers whose walkie-talkies never left their side as they coordinated the event; in the carpark were volunteers directing the incoming flow of traffic; under a hastily erected tent a free haircut zone was set up, and the waiting area was clustered with volunteers warmly interacting with care recipients. Outside there were even the lively Tzu Shaos (Tzu Chi teenagers class members) stationed near the entrance welcoming guests. Despite the sweat soaking through everyone’s uniforms, volunteers happily and willingly carried out their duties to cater to the long-awaited guests: the care recipients and their families.
A car had just stopped and immediately 13 year old Tzu Shao Yang Cai Ting made her way to help open the door, enthusiastically greeting the care recipient within. She then very carefully helped him get out of the car. The young Tzu Shaos provided reliable support for the elderly care recipients that came, and step by step brought them to the entrance, even half-kneeling to help them remove their shoes and meticulously placing the shoes into shoe bags before handing the bags to care recipients.
With the multitude of small gestures not unlike the natural interaction between a grandparent and their own grandchild, the heartwarming feeling of returning home pervaded the event. Young and enthusiastic Cai Ting said, “I was worried that it might be difficult for the elderly to bend over to remove their shoes, so I was extremely willing to help them do so. Besides, I still have good use of my limbs, which makes me very lucky indeed, thus I should use them to the best of my ability to help others!”
Volunteers on stage using sign language and song to kick off the day’s performances, welcoming the 243 care recipients from across the island and their families to the event as well as encouraging one another on. (Photo by Zeng Mei Zhen)
Just outside the venue, volunteers erected a temporary tent where experienced volunteers helped provide free haircuts to care recipients and their families. (Photo by Zeng Mei Zhen)
Tears Flow as Touching Scenes Embed Deeply in Hearts
The dignified Buddha Hall where the main program was held allowed the guests entering to relax, with a calmer and more agreeable mood settling over everyone.
“Oh Rose, Rose, how I love you! This is a song I sing very often!” lovely Granny Lin still remembers her younger days despite mild dementia, and was very enraptured throughout the song, even gesturing with her hands.
The day’s program was organized differently from past charity distribution days, as this time volunteers had invited care recipients themselves to come onstage and put up their own performances. Even while leaning on a walking stick, Mr. Lim gamely stepped up to present two English songs: “Wonderful Tonight” and “How Can I Tell Her about You”. Any initial nervousness he felt was dissipated by the audience’s warm applause. His sincere voice penetrated the hearts of the audience and captured the attention of his fellow care recipients, even bringing tears to one named Jaya.
When volunteers gently enquired about her emotions in fear of evoking the full waterworks, she responded, “It’s because of his bravery and determination. Look at him, even needing a walking stick he can go onstage and perform, bringing joy to everyone, to all of our friends here.”
Jaya herself had suffered from polio since young, and in addition has colorectal cancer. She goes about her daily life with a stoma bag attached to her body to get rid of waste products, yet is still naturally optimistic and is never consumed by self-pity. Despite being confined to a wheelchair, she still goes to work and even donates a little every month to help others.
On stage, Jaya played a beat on the tambourine while singing a song she wrote herself
entitled “Be Strong,” sharing with all care recipients and their families present how she faces life with strength. Her performance also deeply touched Indonesian single mother Marliana who had brought along her six year old child to the event. Marliana saw that even though Jaya had difficulties getting around, she still faced life and all its challenges with bravery, while Marliana herself with four healthy limbs was nowhere near as resilient. The thought caused tears to trickle down her cheeks.
Tzu Chi volunteers took this chance to touch the hearts of all care recipients, regularly inviting them to the Jing Si Hall to enjoy performances and activities together. These activities serve to strengthen the bonds and reduce the distance between giver and recipient. No matter how trying their lives may be and how much suffering they have to endure due to illness, there will always be people accompanying them along the way. With this in mind, they will never be alone. Indeed, for one to live out an exciting, full life requires much strength, encouragement and affirmation.
Tzu Shao with a grateful and respectful heart, helping care recipients remove their shoes and keep them in the shoe bags provided. (Photo by Zeng Mei Zhen)
One of the performance items was a harmonica performance by member of the public Mr. Lee, and three of his friends who together presented a few melodious pieces to the warm applause of the audience. (Photo by Zeng Mei Zhen)
“Oh Rose, Rose, how I love you! This is a song I often sing!” Even with slight dementia, Granny Lin (second from right) still recalls her younger days and sang along, even happily gesturing with her hands throughout. (Photo by Zeng Mei Zhen)
Even while needing a walking stick to aid his movement, Mr. Lim made his way on stage to present two English songs. Initially nervous, he was greatly encouraged by the applause from the audience. (Photo by Zeng Mei Zhen)
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