The Tzu Chi collegiate youths (Tzu Chings) began supporting the Redhill recycling point since August 2009. Picture shows the SG Cares volunteers working along the Tzu Chings, who are donning the blue uniforms. (Photo by Ng Jia Han)
The “SG Cares” project is a collaboration between the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC). An online portal with the same name was set up by the NVPC to offer "a vibrant online marketplace that facilitates the flow of information on volunteering opportunities, allowing efficient registration, activity search and sign-up by volunteers".
In March this year, the SG Cares staff contacted Tzu Chi Singapore to seek partnering opportunities. Having confirmed the Foundation as its Volunteer Host Organization (VHO), they decided that volunteers registered with its portal will start off by volunteering in Tzu Chi's community recycling activity. With news spreading through the portal, a breed of new blood could be seen gradually pumping in energy into six Tzu Chi recycling points, namely Serangoon, Toa Payoh, Shun Fu Road (Bishan), Redhill, Jalan Bukit Merah, and Jurong East. The figure shows that from April to August 2011, there have been 171 shifts of SG Care volunteers taking part in the monthly recycling, 74% of whom are below 30 years old.
The Redhill Tzu Chi recycling point is consistently maintained by the Tzu Chi collegiate youth (or Tzu Ching). During the recent monthly recycling activity on 14 Aug, a few young and new faces from SG Cares were spotted amongst the usual Tzu Ching crowd.
Huang Wei Qi, 15, had actually participated in the activity once before. He said the hands-on experience sorting out the recyclables has helped enforce his concept on environmental protection. He cited the example of “3R”, the well-known environmental motto which comprise of Recycle, Reduce, and Reuse, was expanded by Tzu Chi to become “5R”, where “Repair” and “Reject/Refuse” come in as additional components.
Same as Huang, it was also Wong Ee Hoa’s second volunteering at the recycling point. On his first experience, he was in charge of collecting the recyclables from the residents whereas this time he had the chance to sort out the recyclables.
He confessed of getting rather confused on his first go as his companions seem to adopt different methods in sorting. Nonetheless, he realized eventually that the sorting method is not crucial as everyone is entitled to have their own way of making things work, and that most importantly everyone is striving for the same “goal”.
Huang Yi He who had experience doing recycling with different organizations commented that the main difference in Tzu Chi's approach is that volunteers will go to the residents' doorsteps and collect the recyclables from them. What is more encouraging is that some residents would personally bring their recyclables down to the recycling point and even stay to help with the sorting.
Also at the recycling activity was Taichi Ito, a 29-year-old migrant from Japan who has a unique background. His grandfather was sent to Myanmar for his military service during World War II. When he was a child, Ito always heard about the unsophisticated ethos of the South East Asians from his grandfather. When he grew up, he decided to travel to Indo-China to find the pieces of childhood stories as described by his grandfather. This made him realize that living in an affluent country like Japan is blissful but there are still a lot of people in different parts of the world who need help. Hence, with a strong sense of determination, Ito resigned from his construction job in Japan and migrated to Singapore.
It has been six months since he first arrived in Singapore and he is currently taking an English course in a Japan international school. He wishes to settle down permanently in Singapore and contribute his effort in sustaining the environment. Ito thinks that the recycling activity in Redhill greatly links his dream of helping the needy with his will to protect the environment.
According to the survey conducted by the NVPC last year, among youths between the age of 15 to 24, 36% of them are volunteers, a 25% increase compared to 2004. It shows that more local youths are willing to serve the public and the society.
SG Cares clearly demonstrates its role in gathering the collective efforts from all walks of life by cooperating with more than 10 charity and voluntary organizations. This provide an ideal platform for the public to volunteer in different areas of services, which include caring for lonely elderly or patients with mental illness, preparing packed food for the needy family and etc.
With an effort to work along with the fast pace Singaporean lifestyle, SG Cares adopts a flexible operating system. Once registered as a member, you can register online anytime for a particular voluntary service which interest you.
It is worth noting that there is only two full-time staff, whereas the rest are all part-time volunteers, including the team leaders of each voluntary service.
Lee Shiang Yee is the SG Cares team leader of the Redhill Tzu Chi recycling point. In 2004, during her trip to Taiwan to visit her father who was ill, she had the opportunity to meet some Tzu Chi volunteers. She has since participated in Tzu Chi activities from time to time including the time when she was posted to Hong Kong a few years ago. Ms Lin told us that a few of her present colleagues are Tzu Chi volunteers and this makes her feel that there is a unique affinity between her and Tzu Chi. She also highly identifies with Master Cheng Yen's ideal which is why she is now shouldering the task as the team leader with great passion.
SG Cares envisions a caring and engaged society in which people will spontaneously and regularly volunteer their time and talent to make a difference in the community as a way of life. The encouraging attendance of its volunteer members in Tzu Chi's recycling activities is a positive sign of the effort. (Photo by Ng Jia Han)
A SG Care volunteer (front in volunteer vest) helping a Tzu Chi collegiate youth in transporting the recyclables to the recycling point. (Photo by Ng Jia Han)
Huang Yi He, who had experience doing recycling with different organizations, fully agrees with Tzu Chi's approach in educating the public about recycling in addition to executing the environmental effort. (Photo by Cai Yue Guo)
Lee Shiang Yee feels there is a unique affinity between her and Tzu Chi. She also highly identifies with Master Cheng Yen's ideal which is why she is now shouldering the task as the team leader with great passion. (Photo by Ng Jia Han)
Through SG Cares, Wong Ee Hoa turns up for the monthly recycling day for the second time. He feels that each participation is a new experience for him. (Photo by Wu Yue Guo)
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