After the opening ceremony of the Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre in 2019, many residents had proactively visited the premises due to the attractive architecture of the building. The Tzu Chi volunteers who received them became the means by which residents understood more about Tzu Chi and its work. (Photo by Tan Cheng Hwa)
“To receive a visitor, a volunteer should not only nod at them but also establish eye contact. Furthermore, he or she should also express their gratitude for the visitor gracing our premises.”
“As we gain attention from the wider community, we are able to spread the word about Tzu Chi. If we smile and thank each and every outgoing visitor, volunteers have the chance to inspire kindness in people.”
Although the two quotes above are phrased simply, it conveys the reception volunteers’ painstaking efforts and long-term commitment. The Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre (HYC) reception volunteers have to roster themselves to either be at the front counter or be stationed at various sections of the centre to welcome visitors, and both tasks are extremely important.
Ever since the HYC’s opening in November 2019, it has adopted a roster system in a bid to encourage volunteers to be a part of this “home” despite being interrupted by pandemic restrictions several times. Now that measures are loosening up, HYC seized the opportunity to hold its first in-person get-together cum training session on 19 February 2022.
38 volunteers from the reception team gathered joyfully in the hall to not only get to know more about one another but also to further understand the operations of HYC, as well as what the role of a reception volunteer entails.
In order for everyone to fully understand the HYC, the initial ice-breaking activity was one where the facilitators prepared eight questions, ranging from basic information about the HYC’s operations to how one can take part in recently-held activities. An elected representative from each table would have to draw lots to pick a question and bring it back to their respective groups for discussion.
It was a light-hearted occasion as the volunteers shared their opinions and the facilitators revealed the correct answers. After hearing one another’s responses, the volunteers have a better understanding of how they could share about Tzu Chi and the HYC with public members.
It was a light-hearted occasion as the volunteers shared their opinions and learnt how to share more about Tzu Chi and HYC. (Photo by Goh Lam Kia)
The Importance of First Impressions
The reception team’s volunteers are the faces of HYC – every action they do matters, as they bring joy to visitors.
Yap Sook Ting, a certified Tzu Chi volunteer who has been with Tzu Chi for more than ten years, shared with the volunteers tips on how one could receive members of the public. She mentioned how first impressions are paramount, and volunteers must look proper from head to toe. Not only must they be properly attired and look neat, but they should also greet visitors with a smile. In addition, she shared how volunteers need to be courteous, know their limits when interacting with others, and seize the opportunity to share about Tzu Chi with visitors wherever possible.
Volunteer Yap Sook Ting shares the importance of leaving a good first impression on the visitors. (Photo by Goh Lam Kia)
There is always space and time to convey Dharma and show what the people of Tzu Chi are like. Yap Sook Ting raised the example of how when a visitor enters the HYC, volunteers can start explaining the origins of the Bamboo Coin Bank Era based on the posters on both sides of the entrance, as well as Master Cheng Yen’s story of undergoing a retreat in isolation in a small wooden hut. The volunteer can then guide the visitor to look opposite the entrance and share more about Tzu Chi’s efforts, such as rendering humanitarian aid and organising bone marrow donations.
Lastly, she also shared how the visitor can be led to the other end of the corridor, where the volunteer can introduce the special collaborative activity spaces – the eco-workshops, wellness studio, co-working space, multi-purpose classrooms, public reading area, plant-based cafe, artisan bakery, multi-purpose hall, Jing Si Books & Cafe and the Eco Awareness Gallery.
As the world enters 2022, the safe management measures have loosened, allowing the HYC to organise the onsite gathering cum training session. (Photo by Goh Lam Kia)
Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore) Deputy CEO Khoo Kean Yee was one of the first reception volunteers for the HYC, and he agreed with the importance of nurturing manners. He elaborated, “To receive a visitor, a volunteer should not only nod at them but also establish eye contact. Furthermore, he or she should also express their gratitude for the visitor gracing our premises. As we gain attention from the wider community, we are able to spread the word about Tzu Chi. If we smile and thank each and every outgoing visitor, volunteers have the chance to inspire kindness in people.”
He currently does the Friday morning shift, and he is grateful that he had the opportunity to fill in when the need arose. He hopes that volunteers can spread the word and encourage more people to join them so that the HYC would be lively and dynamic.
A Platform to Empower Youths in the Community
Located in Yishun, the HYC has organised more than 300 activities since its opening, of which many activities were done in collaboration with various community groups. Lim Choon Choon, the manager of the HYC, mentioned how the HYC is a good platform to spread awareness about Buddhism, as it welcomes over 15,000 visitors monthly, with the peak being 20,000. Even when COVID-19 case numbers were high, there were 7,000 visitors every month. She further said that as long as 1% of visitors could understand more about Tzu Chi and be interested to become a Tzu Chi volunteer, the effects would be tremendous.
For the past two years, the HYC has operated on the key mission of ‘For YOUth by Youth’, to empower youths to leverage various learning platforms to seek what they truly value. This is in hopes that each youth entering the HYC can find their own unique set of values, unleash their creativity and vitality, and take ownership of their lives.
Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore) CEO Low Swee Seh expressed his heartfelt gratitude to each volunteer who has poured their hearts into running the HYC. The collaboration between the management and volunteers is key to the operations of Tzu Chi.
Mr Low recounted that the HYC was previously a community clinic isolated from the outside world and how it has now changed to welcome everyone. With the addition of the Eco Awareness Gallery, more volunteers will be needed to serve at HYC.
He hopes that the HYC can develop to be as per Master Cheng Yen’s blessings – to fully exhibit the humanitarian spirit of Tzu Chi, spread awareness about Buddhism, and purify minds.
HYC Manager Lim Choon Choon explains that the centre welcomes an average of 15,000 visitors monthly, allowing it to be a good platform to spread awareness about Buddhism. As long as 1% of visitors could understand more about Tzu Chi and be interested to become a Tzu Chi volunteer, the effects would be tremendous. (Photo by Goh Lam Kia)
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