(Photo: Ng Paik Eng)
Every Thursday morning from 8.30 am to 11 am, a group of people are sure to be present at the open space near Block 26 at Jalan Klinik. For more than three years, come rain or shine, they have seized on the opportunity to contribute to a sustainable planet by collecting and sorting out recyclables at this Bukit Ho Swee estate.
Their story started in 2008 when Sister Low Siang Kheng went to Taiwan to participate in the overseas volunteer seminar. Being inspired by Master Cheng Yen on the importance of environmental protection, the then 64-year-old volunteer vowed there and then to do all she can for the environment.
After she returned to Singapore, she started storing away recyclable items at her home and began spreading the message of environmental protection, specifically recycling, to her neighbours. One of her neighbours, Zhang Li Yun was moved by her sincerity that she collected and gave the recyclable materials to Sister Low. She also invited her sister who lives nearby to join in the movement. The sister not only helped to spread the word around, she also offered to go to the homes of aged residents and those with mobility issue to collect their recyclables. Gradually the seeds of environmental protection were planted in the neighbourhood through the two enthusiastic sisters.
And so the recycling effort in the estate first started with two Tzu Chi volunteers and three residents. The manpower has now grown to nearly 20 volunteers and residents. Many residents, while on their way to work or to the morning market, will drop off their recyclables at the recycling spot along their way. The volunteers would then seize the opportunity to introduce Tzu Chi’s cause and its recycling for charity programme* to them.
Many identified with the cause and further signed up as donors to support the Foundation. After a period of interaction, five of these donating members proceeded from recycling work to joining Tzu Chi’s volunteer training and are now regularly participates in the community study club.
A cultivation ground for all
Formally established in June 2012, the Bukit Ho Swee recycling point is now Tzu Chi Singapore’s first recycling point to have recycling activities once a week instead of once a month. To Sister Low, who is 68 this year, this is not only a place to recruit new volunteers but also a ground to test her determination. Before the recycling point was formally established, the volunteer had met with a lot of obstacles, but she always remembers what the Master said: "If it is the right thing, just do it." And so she continued to toil on.
During a Chinese New Year get-together early this year, Tzu Chi Singapore administrative manager Brother Keng Lim came to the neighbourhood and was greeted with a warm picture of volunteers and residents mingling together. When he found out that there was yet a formal Tzu Chi recycling point in the area, he quickly proposed to have a recycling point be established there.
On 23 February 2012, our CEO Brother Low Swee Seh and Vice CEO Brother Kenny Khoo went to Bukit Ho Swee to understand the on-site condition. Brother Low invited Sister Low and the person in charge of the Residents' Committee (RC) to discuss about the establishment of the recycling point. Unexpectedly, in one of the later discussions, the RC members liked the idea and readily accepted the proposal and promised to do their best to assist in the establishment.
"I am grateful for the company of our brothers and sisters and our residents here!" Sister Low felt very gratified seeing that the community recycling effort has finally paid off with the inception of a fixed recycling point in Bukit Ho Swee.
Striving hard in her golden years
82-year-old Huang Yu Mei is the oldest recycling volunteer in the community. She has known of Tzu Chi a long time but she has yet to get a chance to join the organization. That is until March 2011 when she passed by Jalan Klinik and chanced upon the volunteers who dressed in their blue and white uniform. “Finally I have found Tzu Chi! I want to participate in this recycling work!” The senior was so full of joy and of course the volunteers welcomed her.
So that was how Grandma Huang and her maid who takes care of her came to do recycling sorting. It has been more than a year since and she has never missed a session unless she was needed elsewhere. This is also a place where she can chat with the volunteers and share her life story with them.
"Recycling is what the Master asks us to do. It shows our concern for Mother Earth. It’s also a form of physical exercise for me so the more I do, the happier I am!" Grandma Huang also vowed to be a uniformed volunteer one day and diligently took part in the new volunteer training, sharing session and study group. Her lifelong learning spirit is admirable indeed.
Each year on Mothers’ Day, her son who resides in Beijing will arrange for her to fly to Beijing for familial celebration. This year, however, Grandma Huang told her son that she prefers to stay in Singapore for the Tzu Chi 46th Anniversary cum Interfaith World Peace Prayer Ceremony (which celebrates Mother’s Day too).
“Last year I missed the event, so this year I must appreciate the opportunity to be there,” she insisted. Her filial son conceded and promised to postpone her Beijing trip after Mothers’ Day instead. A pleased Grandma Huang then happily invited a few of her friends to join her for the ceremony.
Farewell to depression
Mr Liu, a resident in his 30s, joined the recycling activity along with his mother in October last year. The mother revealed that her son is introverted and has a lower learning ability. He was often mocked by his peers during his school days but she was too busy working to have time to accompany him. Gradually the son became withdrawn and fell into depression.
Mrs Liu has been feeling remorse and guilt for her son’s condition for years. To make it up to him and to get him to open up as much as possible, Mrs Liu quitted her business to devote her time to taking care of her son. In hopes of reintegrating him into society and building up his self-esteem, she tried all kinds of method, but all ended in vain.
The turning point came when they walked into the Bukit Ho Swee recycling point. Over the past six months, amongst the companionship of Tzu Chi volunteers, Mr Liu started to learn how to classify the recyclables. From there, he moved on to collecting recyclables from the vicinity, and sometimes even taught the newly join volunteers. His mother is very pleased to see her son's gradual progress. She is also very grateful to the Tzu Chi volunteers and hopes that this new start is a new chapter for his life.
During the past three years, the local volunteers have diligently reached out to the community and put up Chinese New Year get-together every year to share with the residents the common experiences that they had over the past year and their vision of building a community of love. Now with the inception of the new recycling point, they shall look forward to safeguarding the environment with greater resolve and steadfastness.
*The money collected from all recycling effort goes to our “Seeds of Hope Bursary” programme which helps needy students pay for their meals and transportation fees.
Every Thursday morning from 8.30 am to 11 am, a group of volunteers are sure to be present at the open space near Block 26 Jalan Klinik to do recycling. Their effort has persisted for more than three years. (Photo: Yan Su Yuan)
On 7 June 2012, the volunteers happily hang up a self-made sign symbolizing the beginning of the day for the recycling point of Bukit Ho Swee. (Photo: Ng Paik Eng)
68-year-old volunteer Low Siang Kheng’s dedication has not only moved her neighbours, her hard work has also earned recognition from the residents' committee. Picture shows Sister Low discussing the distribution of environmental leaflets with the person in charge of the local RC. (Photo: Ng Paik Eng)
82-year-old Huang Yu Mei and her Indonesian maid doing recycling sorting together. The senior loves to volunteer and has been recently certified as a grey-uniformed volunteer of Tzu Chi Singapore. (Photo: Ng Paik Eng)
In addition to doing sorting work at the recycling point, the recycling volunteers take the effort to collect recyclables from neighbouring businesses too. (Photo: Ng Paik Eng)
Brother Jeff Chang (middle) and his wife are the essential members of the recycling point. The entrepreneur volunteer would help out at the recycling point every Thursday before he goes to work. (Photo: Ng Paik Eng)
“Yes, we made it!” The recycling volunteers pose for the historical moment on the official opening day. (Photo: Ng Paik Eng)
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