On June 16, 2007, the Singapore branch organized a New Volunteers Training session, drawing response from a total of 188 new volunteers. It is also an opportunity for the existing members to welcome and lead the way for new volunteers on Tzu Chi’s path.

Sis Yeo (right) now enjoys volunteering in the area of Translation and Recycling work.

Seeing how his son and daughter-in-law derived much joy from their participation in Tzu Chi voluntary activities, Mr & Mrs Chen Chun-Tian gladly participate in the day’s training session.

Sis Shuhua is always at Tzu Chi if not at home. Devoting much of her time in recycling work, she also encourages her fellow members in the Cooking Team to practice environmental friendliness working in the kitchen.

Matthew comes to Tzu Chi whenever he’s free at weekends. First time participating in the training, the session provides him a chance to understand more of the organization’s missions.

“After I participate in Tzu Chi’s voluntary activities and got to know Tzu Chi better, I could feel more peace and calmness within me.” said Sis Grace Yeo with full emotion. And she shared these thoughts repeatedly in the small group sharing session and large group ending session, on this day at the New Volunteers Training, conducted on 16th June 2007.

Sis Grace’s first encounter with Tzu Chi started at about two years ago when she was in Taiwan. Once when she turned on the television in her hotel room, she saw the broadcast of Master Cheng Yen’s Daily Speech in Da Ai Television channel. Hearing the Master’s wise words soothed her heart. Then at about 6 months ago, she started to notice Tzu Chi volunteers shuttling at the condominium (where she stayed) car park doing recycling work. Initially, she just looked out from the window to observe what they’re doing. After a few months, she finally plucked up enough courage to step out of her house to join them, bringing with her the recyclable items.

Under the guidance of her neighbour, Sis Li Minghui, she joined Tzu Chi and is now an active volunteer with the Singapore branch’s Translation Department and doing Recycling work too. Today being her first time participating in such Volunteer Training, Sis Grace said earnestly, “If we do not seek our own progress and strive to become a better person ourselves, we would not be able to influence others. After all, it will be us who will benefit the most through contributing in volunteerism.”

Now, Sis Grace watches Master Cheng Yen’s Daily Speech regularly from the Da Ai Television website. She even shared it with her colleague, encouraging her to watch the daily Da Ai Headlines (i.e. the English news broadcast). Indeed, this is also one of the messages being conveyed in today’s training, if we could guide and lead one more person, he would then be able to influence and help the people around him.

The next training item allowed the volunteers to understand more on how the practice of “Subduing One’s Self and Returning to Propriety”. The programme team arranged a fun game activity, namely, “Use Your Eyes to Listen and Use Your Ears to See”, for the volunteers to count on the number of occurrences of similar words within a passage. This activity encouraged team works and promoted unity amongst the team members so that they will be able to concentrate better.

“Anyone interested to do recycling? Please meet me at the car park behind at 6pm. I will be waiting for you there, ok?” asked Sis Fu Shu Hua in an upbeat tone, who just recently returned from Taiwan’s 4-in-1 Officers Training programme. Bubbling with enthusiasms, together with her sincere warm smiles, Sis Shu Hua happily and eagerly shared with us how initially her husband does not support her recycling efforts, worrying about others might misunderstood and thought that they must be from poor family. However, her husband had since changed his mind and is now an active supporter of recycling too, always bringing along with them empty bags to pick up disposed PET bottles whenever they go to the park.

Already an active volunteer in the Cooking team, Sis Shu Hua had since influenced the new Cooking team volunteers to be more environmentally friendly. Before they threw away an item, these new volunteers will usually consult Sis Shu Hua to confirm if such item could be recycled. In addition, Sis Shu Hua always shared with her children how Tzu Chi had become her second home, telling them that they could always find Mum at Tzu Chi, if she cannot be found at home. Indeed, many new volunteers were moved by Sis Shu Hua’s sincere sharing and teachings by her own examples.

Another new young volunteer being trained today is Matthew Au, who is attending the training for the first time today. After seeing how his mother had changed for the better ever since she joined Tzu Chi, it triggered him to want to know Tzu Chi better. Although currently still serving his National Service, Matthew actively participates in the various charity and community recycling activities during his free time in the week-ends. The training session today provided him an opportunity to think about how he could contribute more towards Tzu Chi’s missions. He expressed, the concept of “Subduing One’s Self and Returning to Propriety” is not easily acceptable by the youths today. Fortunately for him, he has the good fortune of having his mother being involved in Tzu Chi and could constantly share with him the right ways of conducting himself and imparting to him the proper moral values.

Joining us today is also the parents of Brother Chen Zhao-Yun, who is the Coordinator for the Mission of Education. Seeing how his son and daughter-in-law derived so much joy from their participation in Tzu Chi voluntary activities, Mr Chen Chun-Tian was convinced. With his strong beliefs that one should always continuously learn regardless of how old a person is, together with his wife, they both decided to be trained to become new Tzu Chi volunteers.

During the ending sharing session, Brother Chen Chun-Tian gladly shared with everyone on how he thinks about Tzu Chi volunteers, “Tzu Chi people are presentable, courteous, friendly and compassionate.” With regards to the “Subduing One’s Self and Returning to Propriety” campaign, Brother Chun-Tian expressed, “There is such an ancient saying that a beautiful embroidery pillow is nothing but fillings with straws. If a person is not courteous, regardless of how well dressed he is, he will still be ugly. However, if he has warm smiling faces, he will definitely be welcomed by others wherever he goes.”

A total of 188 new volunteers have been present in today’s session. With love and sincerity, the senior volunteers will continue to lead and guide the new joiners into committing themselves wholeheartedly in Tzu Chi’s humanitarian efforts; as all our volunteers regard these fulfillments with utmost sense of aspiration and responsibility, and rejoice in accomplishing the fulfillments.

Note
1) “Subduing One’s Self and Returning to Propriety” is a recent movement to call upon everyone to lower on material desire and reduce energy consumption to help curb climate change. It is also a calling to revive ethics of the past to practice mutual respect and politeness.
2) The New Volunteers Training is held thrice a year. Please check with the branch office or refer the Event List for the session dates.